Hey everyone!
I've been around here for a while and I thought I might post something of mine.
I'm not sure if it's all that good but I started it a long time ago, and I wanted to share and see if anyone was interested in reading it. It's just something that popped into my head one day and it's evolved into crazy U2 fun from there.

This is the first and second chapter of window in the skies and It takes place in Dublin around the late 70's early 80's when U2 was just starting out. It is a bit AU too but it's mostly just the crazy imaginings of me and my friend Aids.
I owe a lot to Aids for being my inspiration in the first place when I read her story "The Edge of Reason" And I also owe her for letting me pick her brain for ideas. lol. So Aids if you're reading this then thank you for helping me out all this time!
And to everyone else I hope you enjoy!

*oh and I don't know U2 and all of this is totally false*

Window In The Skies
Chapter One

"Run! Don't look back!!" Edge shouted at me as he flew by and I groaned as I forced my over tired legs to gain speed. My whole body burned with the effort and my vision blurred as the world rushed by. I never felt so free as when I was running. Aids came up on my left, pumping her arms to keep up.

"Those slow arse's will never catch us!" She grinned at me as her hair whipped around her face.

'Now!" Edge yelled and I looked up ahead just in time to see him fly around a corner into a nearby alley way.

"Now!" I yelled over my shoulder and I slowed just enough to make the turn without breaking my neck. The alley was dark and I squinted as I slowed down to a jog. I saw the shadow of Edge stalking in front of me but nothing else. I heard Aids behind me and wondered how close they were to catching us.

Suddenly the alley broke open into a street and the street lamps helped with my sight but not much. The moon was full and the wind was biting. I shivered and was glad my Mum reminded me to bring a jacket. I skidded to a halt and peered around the street.

"Edge?" I didn't see him anywhere. The street was deserted and silent except for my own labored breathing.

"Where is everyone?" Aids jogged up to my side. She looked around nervously and I bit my lip.

"I don't know. I swear I saw Edge go this way." At least I recognized where I was so that I could lead us back to our meeting place. The breeze picked up and blew a piece of trash across the silent street. Something wasn't right. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I had to fight down my panic.

"Something's funny here." Aids said in a low whisper and I nodded silently. The best thing to do now would be to stay as quiet as possible. My eyes had adjusted to the dark of the street now and I peered into the shadows, trying to recognize any shapes. When I saw the faint outline of an arm I thought I was seeing things, but as I stared harder I knew I wasn't imagining anything and I broke out in a cold sweat. They'd found me. They'd found us.

Keeping as still as I could I moved my hand into my back pocket and gripped the handle of my dirk.

"Aids...listen to me." I whispered, keeping my eyes glued to the shadow of what I thought might be the enemy. Lurking...waiting to make his kill.

"I'm listening." Her voice was steady as a rock now and I knew she was ready for whatever they threw at us.

"Straight ahead against the wall..someone's there. I'm going to call him out so be ready."

"I'm ready"

I tightened my grip on the dirk and took a deep breath.
"You there! I see you, shit head! Come out and face me! Or are you a coward!?" I sneered and glared while on the inside I was quaking in my boots. If this didn't work we were both probably going to regret it..

The shadow shifted and a form stepped out.
"Nicely played love. You did a fair job that time...but you forgot one thing." His shinning eyes gleamed triumphantly in the moonlight and my heart stopped.

"What did I forget?" I heard Aids' quick intake of breath and I spun around, pulling my knife and holding it at the ready. It was too late. He had her with a knife at her throat and I couldn't do anything to help her.

"Shit." I cursed briefly and my captor behind me laughed.
"I guess you weren't as prepared as you thought. You didn't think we'd find you." He stepped closer and I turned towards him, thinking that I might just be able to beat him at his own game if I had him at my knife point. "I don't think that would be very smart." He must have read what I was thinking in my eyes. Damn it...now what? I looked back as Aids and saw the anger flare in her eyes as she struggled against the hold on her. If she could get free than I could turn things around for us.

"Take her to the house." The shadow man ordered the man who was holding Aids and I gritted my teeth in rage.

"No. Wait. Maybe we can talk and work something out." I was trying to buy time. The last thing I wanted to do was make a deal but we'd been practicing for this for days and I wasn't about to give up now. I just couldn't

"Talk? About what love?" He was just humoring me now and I fought against the urge to tell him to go to hell. I needed to think fast and I needed to think of something that would get his attention.

"What'll it take to let us go? Lets be reasonable." A bead of sweat trickled uncomfortably down my back and I struggled not to twitch.

He snorted at me "What would it take? hmm...what do you think G?" He asked his accomplice who still had a knife on Aids.
G shrugged "I don't know. Something worth two lives and something you'll have use of."

"Good point. hmm...I've got it! How about a little kissy?" He grinned at me and tapped his lips. I felt my stomach twist, and not all in a bad way either. I had thought about kissing him a couple thousand times before but I never thought it would be possible.

"If I do kiss you than you'll let us both go?" One important thing that I always remember is to never trust the enemy.
"You have my word. I promise." He ran a hand threw his hair in a twitch I'd seen thousands of times before over the years, and I wanted to yell and scream at him.

"I don't think that's realistic. Would they really ever let us go after a kiss? It wouldn't happen."

"Is that a no?"

I glanced back at Aids and she rolled her eyes and shook her head. I sighed in frustration and turned back.

"No. I wont. Nothing is worth that." I released my knife and threw it. It skidded to a halt by Bono's feet. "We're done. You win. Hope your happy." I was angry at myself for not being good enough to get past him and now we had to deal with his cocky attitude.

"I'm disappointed in you Red." Bono crossed his arms over his chest and looked at me in mock pity. I turned away from him and saw Aids was still being held hostage.

"Gavin the games over. Let her go." Aids struggled out of his grip and whacked him upside the head.

"Ouch! No reason to be violent. I was gentle with you." Aids moved to hit him again and he bounced away grinning. She stepped forward and glared at Bono.

"That wasn't fair. Who would ever ask for a kiss? You cheated!"

"Nothing we can do about it now. Let's just go." I said quietly. I was tired, deflated and just ready to go home and get some sleep.

"Wait. Don't you want to know who betrayed you?" Bono asked. Aids gasped in shock and stared back and forth between him and Gavin. I stared at Bono hard, trying to figure out if he might be joking.

"Do you mean that...someone told you our plans?" Gavin moved to stand next to Bono and the pair grinned at us.

"Yes. We infiltrated your group. It wasn't very hard either. A little weight in the right spot and he flopped on you in a second." They both looked extremely happy with themselves and I wanted to kick them in the shins.

I snorted. "I don't believe you. Who would turn on us?"

"Yeah who would do that?" Aids asked standing next to me and glaring.

"It was your boyfriend The Edge. He told us everything." Bono smiled smugly and Aids laughed.

"Now I know your lying! Edge would never do that..and he's not my boyfriend!" Aids said. I looked closely at Bono, trying to tell if he might be lying but my instinct told me that it was possible he wasn't and my gut twisted.

"I want to hear it from Edge before I believe anything. Where is he anyway?"

"We sent him home. Lets just say he didn't want to be here to witness your deaths. You'll have to wait until morning before you can talk to him." Bono looked down and brushed at his jacket than looked up at me through his bangs and smiled. "Since we're done here, why don't we go celebrate? Gavin's got his house free tonight." Oh that sounded like a real fun time. Go and hear Bono tell everyone how we lost about ten million times in one night. Thanks but no thanks. I checked my watch and shook my head.

"Sorry, but if I don't get home soon I wont be going anywhere for a month."

"Same for me." Aids shrugged. "Maybe next time."

Bono sighed dramatically, "oh alright, but don't forget about the gig on Friday!" He yelled at us as we started down the road.

"We wont! You've only told us everyday for the past month!!! Night Gavin! See ya Bono!"

"Bye!" Their faint voices reached us around the bend as we sped up. We were both silent at first and I knew Aids was bothered as much as I was about what Bono had said about Edge. We'd trusted him and confided in him about what we were going to do and if he'd gone and blabbed to Bono than he'd ruined our chance of finally being the victors.

The game we played was one of strength of mind. What would you do if you were faced with the enemy? It was for fun and to help get us ready in case of anything and Aids and I had never been able to beat Bono. We'd gotten Gavin and Guggi once but Bono was always the slippery one.

We glanced both ways before crossing a busy street and I felt the weight of my dagger against my back. I'd picked it up before we'd left and stuck it in my pants. They weren't real, more just props to make it more realistic. We'd never be allowed to have real knives. Not without worrying that our parents would skin us alive with them if they ever found out.

Aids still hadn't said anything and I glanced at her. She looked like she was fuming mad. If Edge had told Bono than I was mad as hell at him too but I also felt bad for the lashing he would get from Aids when she saw him. We were almost to the street corner where we parted ways and I wanted to talk about it just a little to see if she was okay.

"I'm sure Edge didn't say anything. You know how Bono is. He's probably just trying to get under your skin." I tried to sound confident and Aids snorted loudly.

"He would if Bono talked to him long enough. He's such a coward in the face of intimidation. He wouldn't last five minutes." She was about as angry as I had thought than. Not a good sign. I sighed as we stopped at our corner.

"If he did tell than we can both kill him..then Bono. I'll even hold him down for you okay? But you shouldn't be angry with anyone until we know the truth. That's how I'm looking at this."

"I want to kill Bono first. Than slowly torture Edge for information...but not until I hear it from his mouth that he told Bono."

"That's all I'm asking for. How about we settle this in the morning?"

"I wish we could settle this now. I want to go to Edge's and drag his butt out in the cold and demand he tell me everything." She scowled deeply and her eyes flashed. I bit my lip to keep from laughing at the mental image of Edge being dragged by the ear by Aids and almost couldn't hold it in.

Aids sighed and her shoulders slumped in defeat.
"I feel like I've been run over by a truck." She tiredly brushed her bangs out of her face and managed a smile. "Even if we didn't win though I still had fun. I almost peed my pants when Gavin got me though. Bastard."

"I had fun too and we'll get 'em back for everything." I grinned.

"I'll see you in the morning I guess. Goodnight." She turned and headed down her own street and when she got to the end she turned back and waved. I waved back and called out.

"See you bright and early!" As she disappeared I looked at the time and saw it was a quarter before 9. I was almost late. I cursed and sprinted the last two blocks home. I went round back to cool off a bit before going inside. I still had a little time. I stopped by our sand box, gasping and gripping my side. My cheeks stung and my nose was starting to run from the cold.

Once I'd caught my breath I stood up straight and wiped the sweat from my brow. As I did I caught a motion out of the corner of my eye and spun round, ready to scare off whatever of whoever was stalking around my backyard.

The shadows moved and I saw what and who it was, my shoulders relaxed and I breathed a little easier, though not much.

"Oh it's you. Are you trying to give me a heart attack? How long have you been hiding behind that bush waiting for me?" I quickly patted my hair and wiped my nose. Why did he always catch me off guard? It was really very irritating.

"It's not a bush. It's a tree, and I've not been here long. I was passing by." Adam was leaning against the oak tree..in my backyard..looking at me. My heart sped up and I tried not to let him see how happy I was to see him. In the moonlight I could see his silver blue eyes watching me and I felt my stomach clench and my palms start to sweat. Damn him. He always had this effect on me when I least expected it. Trying to act like I didn't care he was here to see me, I slipped my sweaty hands safely into my front pockets and stared at him.

"Passing by? Is there any reason you stopped here? Do you need something?" I spoke with a small smile and I saw a flash in his eyes at my challenge, but it was gone as quickly as it came. It was a game with the two of us. We talked like we had something more to say but neither one of us was going to be the first to do anything about it.

I watched as he pulled a small box out of his jacket and pulled out a cigarette. He'd started smoking over the summer in London and that just added to his persona of being the bad boy. Like I didn't have enough to feel uncomfortable about.

Act normal. Just act normal. I repeated this again and again as I walked over to him, watching as he lit up and inhaled deeply. His eyes narrowed and crinkled at the corners as he pulled the smoke into his lungs and I shivered. Whenever he did that I wanted to kiss that mouth and caress those crinkles.

Get a hold of yourself! I chided myself to keep it together. It wasn't my fault that Adam was just so damn adorable. I'd had a crush on him almost from the first day I'd seen him with his afghan coat and flask of coffee. Not to mention him fantastic hair. I dreamed about running my hands through it and every time I saw his smile my knees started to knock. But we were just friends and that's all we'd ever be. I got up the courage to lean up against the tree next to him and when our shoulders brushed, a little thrill ran all through me.

"Did your team win?"

"What team?" As soon as I said it I remembered and blushed. Adam smiled. "Oh..uh no but it was close. We could have won if I'd kissed Bono." A part of me wanted Adam to get jealous hearing that and ask questions but the chances were slim.

"Oh really? Why didn't you? That seems like a fair price to pay to win." He wasn't jealous at all and I burned with anger and resentment. Now I wished that I had kissed Bono just so I could have something to rub in his face. If he would even care. Why'd I have to give my heart to someone who didn't even have one?

Adam turned to look at me, taking another drag off his fag and I looked away.

"I just didn't want to kiss him. Besides Ali wouldn't have liked it and I can only deal with so much of Bono's cockiness at one time. We'll win next time." I kept my gaze carefully away from him as I spoke.

"You're right about one thing. I can't even handle one sitting of Bono's smugness. I can't imagine what it would be like if you'd given in and kissed him. Probably would have had to pay someone to chuck him into the river. I don't think Ali would have been bothered by that either. She'd thank you for taking him off her hands I'm sure."

I knew he was trying to be funny but I didn't feel like laughing so I managed a small smile and shrugged. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye. He was gazing lazily up at the branches of the tree and still smoking.

Than he turned to look at me and I quickly focused forward. He stepped away from the tree and I knew it was now or never so I turned to look him in the eye for the first time that night. Close up I saw his eyes were unnaturally bright and I realized that he was probably smoking something more that just tobacco. Something else he'd picked up over the summer. I wasn't sure yet how I felt about that.

"Your parents are waiting for you." He broke eye contact shortly and I had the feeling he knew what I was thinking. He dropped his cigarette onto the ground and crushed it under his heel. Brushing a bit of ash off his sleeve he smiled at me in his cute upside down way.

"Night Red. Sorry about the game. You deserved to win." He flashed a quick grin and I smiled back. I felt better that Adam thought we deserved to win. He was probably the only one to have that opinion.

"Thanks Adam. Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow around school." I was hoping he might talk for a little longer but all I got was a wave and than he was walking away.

I stood there watching him like a lovesick puppy. When I'd finally lost sight of him in the fog I sighed and scrubbed my hands over my face harshly. What was the matter with me? I had it bad for Adam and he probably thought of me as just a friend or maybe even worse..like a little sister. I groaned aloud at that thought and watched my breath turn into a puffy cloud in the cold night air. I buried my hands deeper in my pockets and headed inside to get warm.

Later when I was laying in bed and just about to fall asleep I thought of something. If Adam didn't like me than why was he waiting for me outside my house? Maybe he did care about me but was too shy to say anything. What if he was working up the nerve to ask me to go with him on Friday as his date?

I grinned happily in the dark and closed my eyes. Than they popped back open again when I thought of something else. What if maybe I was completely romanticizing everything and he just thought of me as a friend? Could Adam really like me like I liked him? Anything was possible wasn't it? I closed my eyes again and sighed in confusion as I drifted off to sleep, thinking about the morning when I would see Adam again.

Chapter Two

The next morning I took an extra long time getting ready and my Mum caught me smiling and flirting with myself in the mirror.

"What are you so cheerful about this morning?" She asked, leaning against the door jam. I jumped and blushed because my Mum knew that I really liked a boy..she just didn't know who it was. I would never tell her unless I wanted to be the most embarrassed I'd ever been in my life.

"Um...no reason. I'm..really excited about school today." By the look on her face I knew she didn't believe me. "I'm going be late..Bye!"

I grabbed my jacket and my books and flew out of there as fast as I could. It was another gray and cold morning with the freezing winds. I shivered and tried to sink deeper into my jacket as I walked faster.

I met Aids at our corner and when I saw her I could tell right away she'd been crying.

"What's wrong?"

She sniffed and shook her head. "I don't want to talk about it now."

"Okay..tell me when you do and I'm here for you."

She nodded and we headed down the street together. We'd only been walking for a few minutes when she stopped in her tracks.

"I can't believe this is happening!! It's not fair!!" I blinked at the level of her voice and turned to her.

"What's happening?"

"You wont believe it. It was so strange. I never ever thought..."

"Will you please tell me. What is it?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and spoke in a rush. "AdamcalledmelastnightandaskedmeoutforfridaybutItoldhimno." She held her breath with her eyes still closed and I frowned.

"uh...what was that?" I caught Adam's name and not much else. Whatever it was it was really bothering her though.

"I said..Adam called me last night and asked me out for Friday but I told him no." She opened her eyes and looked at me nervously. "I wouldn't feel right about it and besides I like Edge and I couldn't..I told him that someone else likes him."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "YOU TOLD HIM I LIKE HIM!!??"

"NO! I would never! I told him SOMEONE likes him. He wanted to know who it was and I said if he didn't know than he better find out." I felt the blood drain form my face and I really wished I had a chair to collapse in.

"Oh my God. He knows. He has too. Who else could he think of?"

"I don't know...lots of girls like him. It could be any one of them."

"Oh that makes me feel so much better. Let me make sure I'm hearing you right..Adam calls you last night and asks you out...than you tell him no and that someone else likes him? And why are you crying?"

"Yes, I couldn't believe it! I never thought he liked me like that and I guess he does. And I'm crying because Edge hasn't asked me to go with him yet and I don't think he will..."

"He might. There's still time and it's only Tuesday. Maybe he's waiting for the right time." She sniffed again and wiped her eyes. I patted her on the back gently and handed her a handkerchief from my pocket.

Something else occurred to me than and I felt my stomach flip.

"Wait..what time did Adam call you?"

"I don't know." She shrugged. "Around 10:30 I think..why?" I glared ahead of me and didn't speak. What a bastard. After talking to me last night Adam went home and called Aids to ask her out! He had to at least know that I liked him a little. Or maybe all boys were brainless and he had no idea what I felt. Either way it still hurt and the tears burned my eyes.

"Bastard." I mumbled under my breath and Aids gasped.

"Hey! I told you that I said no! You don't have to call me names! I could have-"

"I didn't mean you! I meant Adam. I talked to him last night."

"You did? When did he call you?" I told her everything that had happened last night in my back yard and she fumed.

"He IS a bastard! How could he do that? He must either be the meanest person or the stupidest."

"Lets not talk about it now. We both agree he's a bastard and we'll leave it at that for now. Did you decide what we're going to do with Edge when we find him?"

Aids face darkened. "No. I tried calling him but no one answered."

"That's not a surprise. Maybe he's hiding from us. He might not even show up for school."

"Edge miss school?" She smirked at me and I grinned.

"Oh of course he wouldn't. So we'll corner him and get the truth."

She nodded. "Yes, we will. And he better pray he's at least partly innocent in this."

All that day I avoided Adam like the plague. Whenever I saw him walking anywhere in my direction I went the other way. The only time I couldn't avoid him was during lunch. I walked out of my class and headed for the lunch room. I was nervous and thought about just skipping it, but I couldn't hide from him forever. I heard someone call my name and turned to look over my shoulder. Unfortunately the person they wanted wasn't me and I wasn't watching where I was going so I ran right into someone. My book and papers went flying everywhere and I groaned.

"What else?" I sighed as I bent down and started grabbing my things frantically before they blew away.

"I'm sorry. Here let me help. I wasn't watching where I was going." I looked up in surprise at the sound of Edge's soft spoken voice.

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention." I gathered up the last of my books and excepted some stray papers from Edge. I stood and smiled at him.

"Thanks." He smiled back and flinched. I noticed the bruise on his cheek and frowned.

"Oh my God. Edge, did Bono do that to you?" Edge looked uncomfortable and shifted his feet.

"Yeah. It's no big deal though. I'm fine."

"No, you're not! He hit you! I can't believe he beat you to get our plans!"

Edge looked confused "What? No..I didn't give Bono your plans."

I stared in surprise. "You didn't? Than how did he know?"

"I don't know but I didn't tell him. He punched me because we had an argument about his singing." His singing? I wasn't an expert on that sort of thing but I always thought Bono screamed a lot. It could just be the funky little amp his voice was playing out of though.

Now I was really confused. If Edge didn't tell than who did? Bono couldn't have just guessed. And the only people who knew were Aids, myself and Edge. I sighed and shook my head, deciding I would ask Ali later if she knew anything. She always kept one step ahead of Bono just in case. We were good friends before her and Bono started going out and I liked her a lot.

"Can I walk you to lunch?" Edge offered and I smiled.

"Sure." As we walked I thought about what Aids had said about Edge. "When you see Aids you might want to tell her what happened with Bono. She thinks you gave him our plans and she's really mad at you." Edge looked scared and I giggled. "It's okay! She wont hurt you. I'll take care of you." He blushed and I laughed. "Oh and I was wondering..do you have a date for Friday?"

"A date? No, I didn't even think about that, but I guess I'll need one." He smiled sheepishly.

"Yeah Larry's going with Ann and Bono and Ali are going and I just wondered if you'd asked anyone."

Edge shook his head "No I haven't...I guess I have to ask someone."

"I guess so." I smiled.

"What about you? Do you have a date?"

"No not yet, but I'm still hoping." I shrugged and Edge nodded and looked away. Than he looked back and chewed his lip nervously.

"Would you...em would you like to be my date?" I stopped in my tracks and stared.

"W-what?" Edge blushed and looked down.

"I said....would you like to be my date?" I opened and closed my mouth but no sound came out. Edge looked embarrassed now. "It's okay..just forget I asked-"

"No! I mean, wait! Yes I'll go with you." I said it in a rush and as soon as it left my mouth I started panicking. I'd only said yes because Edge had looked so upset. I hated hurting my friends and would do anything not to. Edge relaxed and smiled at me and I swallowed hard.

"I'll go with you." Oh my God I said it again! What was I doing!?

"Great." He grinned. "I'll pick you up on Friday than?"

"um...yeah sure." I inwardly groaned and started hitting myself on the head. Stupid stupid!! You were supposed to get Aids and Edge together! Not steal him for yourself!! We walked the rest of the way to the lunch room, got our hot lunches and moved to the tables. I saw our regular table and flinched. Adam was there and he was sitting next to Aids.

Oh just perfect. Bono and Ali were sitting across from them and they looked like two perfect couples. Well, how about a third couple to complete everything? I wanted to be sick. I could tell Aids was freaking out because Adam was next to her and I wanted to laugh at the trying not to look guilty expression on her face when she saw me. She had nothing to worry about...I was the one in trouble. I walked up to the table with Edge at my side.

"Is there room for us?" I asked politely and everyone looked up.

"Course there is! Always room." Bono spoke around a mouthful of food and Ali rolled her eyes and reminded him to chew with his mouth closed. "I am. I'm also talking with my mouth open." He smiled charmingly and Ali melted. I said she stayed a step ahead of him I didn't say she wasn't crazy about him.

I sat down next to Ali and Edge sat across from me and next to Adam. Bono started talking about the gig, spraying food everywhere and somehow still managing to be charming in a silly kind of way. I waited for Bono to say something about last night but he didn't. He was probably waiting for the Village meeting tonight, and I couldn't ask him about how he knew our plans either because we weren't aloud to talk about it with outsiders. And Adam and Ali weren't part of the Village so I would have to wait until later....unless Ali knew something and she could tell me after school. She was kinda like an inside spy for Aids and myself. Us girls had to stick together at all times.

I avoided eye contact with Adam and tried not to pay him any attention. Bono was still going on and I tuned out his voice after a while and instead thought about what I was going to wear on Friday. I had mentally gone through my entire closet and picked out the perfect outfit and was just getting to the shoes when a pale hand waving in front of my face broke my thoughts. I blinked back into the real world and looked around. Bono, Ali, and Adam were gone and Larry was sitting next to me now.

"You were far away." Edge remarked as he tried unsuccessfully to open his milk carton. Apparently it was Larry who had been waving his hand in my face.

"Only a few blocks away." I said casually before taking a big bit of apple. Larry's face was black and he shook his head and kept eating like I hadn't said anything. I rolled my eyes.

"I know the feeling." Edge said. He stuck his tongue out just a little as he pulled on his milk carton just right and it opened. He smiled triumphantly like he'd just landed on the moon and I held back a giggle.

"Where'd everybody go?" I glanced around.

"Didn't you hear Bono say bye? He yelled it loud enough that the people on Mars heard him." Larry grunted. I shrugged and Aids who was quiet up until now spoke up.

"Edge what happened to your face?" Her voice had a dangerous edge to it *no pun intended* and the table went silent. Edge hurriedly explained everything and I filled in the blanks. Aids frowned. "Well, if you didn't tell Bono than who did?"

"I don't think anyone did. Either he found out on his own or it was a coincidence. We should ask Ali later if she knows anything." Aids agreed and I turned to Larry. "Are you and Anne going as a couple on Friday?" he blushed and nodded. "Aren't you two just too cute." I cooed as I reached over and patted his cheek. He tried to bat my hand away but I was too quick. He settled for an angry glare instead.

"What about you? Who are you going with?" The question was directed at me and I hesitated. I didn't want to say it without the full explanation, but as soon as I said who I was going with it would blow up in my face. I looked at Edge and saw he was smiling at me. Oh great, now I have to pick one friend or the other. I was stuck between two hard places and I had to say something soon.

"uh...Edge asked me." Well that WAS the truth and I didn't say I was going with him so it wasn't AS bad. Right? Aids went pale as a sheet and stared at both of us. Larry stared back and forth and snorted.

"You..and you? You're a couple?"

"No..Edge just asked me to go with him on Friday that's all and why is it so surprising to you? Don't you think we could be a couple?" Larry looked shifty under my accusing glare.

"I didn't say that. It caught me by surprise. Do you really think you should be going out together now? Aren't you worried about how it'll effect your friendship?" Damn Larry when did you get so smart? I looked to see how Edge was taking all this and saw he was looking a little pale himself. Right..so now Edge didn't want to be with me either.

"It's just one date and we're going to have fun and still be good friends at the end of the night. Aren't we Edge?"

He nodded "Yes. It's just one night Larry. We know what we're doing." I sighed in relief. So that was figured out..wait since when was I actually going on this date? I wanted to tell Edge the truth about everything as soon as I could. Aids..shit. I looked at her and saw the hurt and tears in her eyes. She pushed her food away and stood up hastily.

"Aids wait!" I yelled after her as she ran from the room. I got up and glared at Larry.

"Now look what you've done! It's none of your business who I do or don't go out with. And because Edge and I are good friends, if we wanted to be something more I would think that you, being our friend too, would be happy for us!" I picked up my books and hurried out to catch Aids, leaving an awkward silence behind me.

I would appreciate comments of any kind. I'm anxious to know what you all think of this!

"Aids Wait!" I ran as fast as I could under the weight of my books and caught up with her in front of the girls loo. "Aids just listen to me. I'm not going with Edge!"

"That's not what it sounded like to me! I trusted you!" She went into the bathroom and slammed the door, which wasn't very hard since the door was made of steel. I cursed and went in after her. She disappeared into the nearest stall and I could hear her crying.

"Oh my God Aids please don't cry. Just listen." I sniffled and tried to hold back my own tears. "Edge surprised me by asking me to go with him and I had to say yes to not hurt his feelings.."

"I didn't do that! I didn't say yes to Adam when he asked me just so I could spare his feelings!"

"It's different with Edge....he's so gentle and kind. I couldn't hurt him, but I'm going to talk to him and tell him I can't go..I'll even tell him someone likes him if you want me to." I wrung my hands anxiously and waited. "Aids? Would you please say something?"

"Why'd he have to ask you and why did you have to say yes!? How would you feel if I'd said yes to Adam and than you had to find out like that in front of everyone."

I'd feel terrible that's how I'd feel. The thought of what I'd just put her through and what Aids must be feeling hit me and I covered my face with my hands and sighed.
"I'm so sorry. I'll go talk to Edge right now and fix this. I promise." The stall banged open and I looked up, hoping that she was forgiving me.
She didn't even look at me as she walked by and opened the door to leave. Before she walked out she looked over her shoulder at me and said,
"Don't bother talking to Edge. Go ahead and go with him and I'll tell Adam I'd be more than happy to be his date." The door slammed and I stood there shaking. Damn it damn it DAMN IT!!! I wiped away my tears and decided that I had to do something. And it had better be soon and now.

I didn't talk to Edge. I didn't talk to anyone. Aids ignored me through the rest of our classes together and I felt even worse. At the end of the school day I walked out into the courtyard and saw Adam and Aids under a nearby tree looking like they were talking with their heads close together. Adam was standing so close to her I imagined she could smell him. My stomach hurt watching them and I closed my eyes and looked away.

"Hey. What're doing? Can I do it too?" I choked on a laugh and opened my eyes. Bono was standing so close to me that I could see the gold specks in his eyes. He smiled and held out his empty arms. "Why don't you let me carry those for you?" I eyed him suspiciously and he blinked innocently at me. "What? Can't a guy do a favor for one of his closest and most beautiful friends?"

Now I KNEW something was going on. "It depends." Bono cocked his head to the side and I gingerly handed my books over to him.

"On what?" He asked.

"Oh whether you plan on doing me any favors at all."

He laughed "Oh ye have little faith! As a matter of fact I have a very BIG favor to do for you. Lets talk while we walk." He jerked his chin at the gate.

Well, there was something he wanted to talk about and I was curious to find out..besides he had my books held captive so I had to follow him. "Lets talk while we walk...hmmm...lets talk while we walk all day down memory lane!! Oh It's cold outside..coooooollld out and I'm calling out!!! I'm calling out your name..Calling out your naaaame!!!! AAAMMMMBBERRR!!!...that's shite." I covered my ears until Bono stopped and then he glared at me.

"You think so? I agree..so stop it."

"You just don't have an ear for music. I think certain people shouldn't listen."

"If they couldn't listen than they would never know how good you are....on a good day, which is not today."

Bono beamed at me. "You think I'm good?" Of course the fact that I also insulted him went right over his head.

"Yes, I think you're good. I really like the way you sing softly. When you scream it kind of gets on my nerves."

"oh...but that's part of the excitement. You see it gets everyone hyped up...therefore The Hype is the perfect name! wow I never noticed that before!" I laughed and shook my head. Bono was really a character.

"What was the favor you wanted to do for me?"

"Oh! I forgot about that. Well, it's a bit complicated...mmmppphh...how many bloody books do you needs anyway?" He shifted them in his arms and almost lost one but managed to grip it and shove it under his chin. "Phew that was close. Where was I?"
"It's complicated."

"What? How can it be complicated to tell me where I was? You just say...."

"Bono! That IS where you were! You said it's complicated and than went off on my books being too heavy."

"Oh that's right. It's complicated...yes. Very."

I rolled my eyes and curled my hand into a fist to keep from using it to smack him upside the head. "Bono could you please get to the point?"

"What? Oh yes. Don't you think that the sky is so pretty right now? All the different shades of gray and a little blue swirled in. It reminds me of vanilla ice cream with strawberries mixed in...only the colors are different. Wouldn't that be odd if the sky was white and red? How weird would that be?"

I smacked my own head instead, hoping it would knock me out and save me from being killed by Bono's mindless chatter. "Bono?"

"Why'd you hit yourself? Have you got a bug on you? They're bad this time of year aren't they? Last night I saw the biggest bug in the world. It was the size of my fist I swear it was!"

"Bono!?"

"And it's eyes were huge! I tried to kill it and you know what it did? It took the newspaper from me and started trying to kill ME instead! I've never been so scared. Have you ever seen a bug that big?" He turned to look at me and saw the glazed over look in my eyes. "Hey are you okay? Maybe you're coming down with something. My Da was sick a few days ago...maybe you've got what he had. Better prepare yourself it was awful. His eyes got all red and he couldn't stop sneezing. The worst cold I've ever seen. You're really in for it. If you want I can ask my Da what he used for his shits...he couldn't stop you see..or maybe..."

"BONO!!! PLEASE STOP!!!" I threw my hands up into the air and let my head fall back. He looked startled.

"What? Why are you yelling?"

"Bono what about the favor you wanted to do for me? Is there even anything or are you trying to kill me!?"

His eyes brightened. "oh! I forgot.....I wanted to wait to tell you in private."

I looked around the deserted street than back at Bono. "Um Bono there's no one around for miles. Why don't you just tell me now?" Anything to end this torture. Even if I did find it adorable most times.

"I guess so....it has to do with a conversation I overheard between Adam and Edge, and you'll be very interested to hear that they were talking about you."

"Me?"

"Uh huh."

"What about me?"

To be sure no one was listening in Bono looked around suspiciously before leaning into my side and whispering.
"Adam told Edge how he liked you and thought you were cute but he didn't think you liked him back. So that's why he's never done anything about it." I stopped in my tracks and stared open mouthed.

"You're daft! He didn't say that!?"

Bono nodded vigorously, "Yes he did! And that's not all! Edge said he felt the same way about Aids!" I gasped and Bono grinned happily. How could this be possible? It was mind boggling.

"But..then why did Edge ask me to be his date and not Aids?"

"Ah hah! That's all part of the brilliant plan. I never thought they would go through with it! Adam might but I didn't think Edge had it in him. He surprised me..kinda like that time last summer when he..."

"Bono! Focus! What plan are you talking about?" He blinked in confusion, than I saw the light bulb go on.

"Oh! Well, Adam suggested that he would ask Aids out and Edge should ask you out. Then they could make you both jealous and make you come to them and be their girlfriends! Isn't that a good plan?"

"What!? No, it's not!"
Those idiots! Did they really think this was going to work!? Well, it was sort of. I was jealous of Aids going to Adam and she was mad at me but what was Adam expecting me to do? Go running to him, through myself in his arms and beg him to be my boyfriend? Never! I would rather date Bono than deal with that...my mind wondered on that thought and I had to shake my head to bring myself back. No, I didn't want to date Bono...but that didn't mean it wasn't a nice thought.

"Are you okay? You're not hyperventilating again? Remember when you did that when I put a frog in your shirt? That was so funny." He chuckled and I glared daggers at him.

"I'm fine. Just give me a minute....what exactly did Adam and Edge think was going to happen?"

Bono shrugged. "I don't know. Mrs. Evans came down the hall than and saw me with my ear pressed to the door. I didn't catch the end."

"Damn! I wish I knew. I can't let them get away with this. Oh my god I have to tell Aids! She can't be mad at me once she hears this."

Bono walked me to my door and I thanked him politely and sent him on his way before my Mum say him. If she did she'd invite him in and I didn't have time to listen to more of his chatter right now. I needed to talk to Aids. I rushed inside to my room to change. I was digging through my clothes looking for a clean shirt when Mum walked in.

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, he is but we're just friends Mom. I'm going to see Aids. I wont be gone long and yes I'll be back in time for supper. Promise." I kissed her cheek and took the stairs two at a time.

I reached Aids house in record time and banged on the door hard. One of her little sisters opened the door and glared at me.
"What do you want?"

I forced a smile on my face. "I was wondering if your sister was home. I'd like to talk to her"

She rolled her eyes in irritation and turned to yell over her shoulder. "Adrienne!!! You have company!!!!!"

Aids came down stairs and when she saw me her face turned to stone and she crossed her arms.
"What are you doing here?"

"Bono just told me something that I know you are going to want to hear..right now." She looked intrigued so I ran with it. "He told me that Adam likes me and Edge likes you! But that's not even the half of it! You have to listen to me...than if you're still mad you can push me out the door if you want." Her eyes went huge and she nodded.
"Fine come on up and we can talk."
"OK." I grinned in relief and followed her up.

Originally posted by WithOrWithOutE
I owe a lot to Aids for being my inspiration in the first place when I read her story "The Edge of Reason" And I also owe her for letting me pick her brain for ideas. lol. So Aids if you're reading this then thank you for helping me out all this time!
And to everyone else I hope you enjoy!

Yay! I'm so glad you guys like it!
And thanks so much for the kind words. I feel much better now.

Hey Aids! Thanks for re-reading!

Here's more. Enjoy! =)

Window in The Skies Chapter Four

A little while later......

"I'm going to kill Edge when I see him!" Aids said, glowering and I agreed.

"We need to do something to get back at them, but what?" We were laying on Aids' bed and staring at the ceiling, contemplating our revenge.

"We could dump them and give them the cold shoulder." Aids suggested.

"No, that's not mean enough. We need something really good and mean." We were both quiet for a minute than,

"I've got it!!" Aids sat up and started laughing. "Oh it's perfect!"

"What?!"

"Here's how it would work. You keep your date with Edge and I'll keep mine with Adam. Then on Friday you have to make Edge think you really like him. Push him as far as you can. Make him crack." She grinned devilishly and I felt the seed of a plan taking root.

"I would have to kiss him. Would you be all right with that?"

She flapped her hand in dismissal. "Oh sure. I would know it wasn't real, but Edge wouldn't"

I grinned, "You're right, that is perfect. What about Adam?"

"Hmmm...he needs something even worse...I'VE GOT IT!! I'll do the same with him only I'll take it a step farther." She told me her idea and we laughed evilly together.

"You're a genius! Where do you come up with this stuff?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I'm from the future."

All that week I tried to pay as much attention to Edge as possible. I met him before and after school and made him walk with me. One day on our way to my house I saw my Mom in the front yard checking the post and I purposely intertwined my fingers with his just as she looked up.

She beamed at the two of us. "Well, hello there. Don't you pair look cute together. You're David Evans aren't you?"

Edge swallowed heavily and nodded. "Yes, Ma'am." He looked nervous and it only got worse when my Mom invited him in for some milk and cookies. I accepted for him and dragged him in behind me. I didn't have the heart to let him go threw with my mom's million questions so I made excuses for him once he finished his cookie and led him to the door.

"Thanks. You saved me." Edge wiped his brow and I grinned.

"Just count yourself lucky that I got you out of there before she started planning our wedding." Edge paled and I barely held in my laughter as I watched him walk down the driveway.

I sat next to him during lunch and sat as close to him as I could the next day. I also started to notice the way he was looking at me. Like I had a rope around his neck and was slowly tightening the knot.

Aids was behaving in the same way with Adam and for once in my life I actually saw Adam get nervous. It happened when Aids started talking about having his children one day.

"Oh Adam wont we have the cutest children?" She sighed happily and took his hand in hers. "A little boy with your hair and my eyes and we can name him Ashley. I've always loved that name haven't you? Than when we have our second, you can name that one. I hope it's a girl. I know you'll pick the perfect name because your my perfect little sugar snooky bear."

She looked up at him adoringly and he smiled tightly and pulled his hand away from hers. He started patting down his shirt, frantically searching for his cigarettes and I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing hysterically. Adam was sweating and had to wipe his glasses clean several times that day. I had to escape to the loo to laugh my head off.

Every night Aids and I would meet and talk about even meaner things we could do to freak them both out, and we kept topping ourselves with funnier things to do.

On Friday afternoon Ali cornered me in the loo before class.
"What's going on with you and Edge?"

"Amber you're not fooling me for a second. I've seen the way you look at Adam and I've not once seen you look at Edge that way. What're you and Aids up too?" I should have known that I'd never be able to hide if from her. I glanced around and put an arm around her shoulders.

"All right I'll tell you but you can't tell anyone..not even Bono."

She looked at me like I was daft. "Why would I tell Bono? I never tell him anything. So what's the big secret? And what can I do to help?"

I grinned wickedly. "Maybe you can help..maybe you can. We don't have much time so lets talk fast."

Later that day during lunch I purposely sat down next to Ali and motioned for Edge to sit across from me. He meekly sat down and started eating his tuna sandwich. Poor Edge probably thought I was insane. There was no time to feel bad though so I pushed that away. I looked up and saw Adam and Aids coming our way. I reached under the table and squeezed Ali's knee. She jumped and followed my gaze to the approaching couple. She winked at me, and stood and slid down the bench.

"Adam! Would you please come sit by me? I wanted to ask you something." Ali smiled and patted the spot between her and I. Adam hesitated and looked at Aids. She smiled prettily.

"Go ahead Adam. You don't have to ask me if you can sit down you silly willy." I snorted in the middle of a swallow of milk and almost shot it out of my nose. Thankfully I managed to catch myself in time. Silly Willy? My god Aids was way too good at this.

Adam sat down next to me and I caught a whiff of his cologne, my stomach tightened and I got lightheaded. Oh lord he smelled soooo good. I had the urge to lean over and bury my face in his neck. Just being this close to him..hmmm...

"What did you want to ask me?" The sound of Adam's voice snapped me out of it. I shook my head slightly. Boy that was close.

"Oh I forget now. Must not have been very important." Ali smiled sweetly and Adam shrugged.

"OK."

Aids was sitting next to Edge now and asking him about what he was going to play tonight and about his guitar. He blushed at something she said and I narrowed my eyes. Once I knew about Edge's feelings it was almost impossible to not see it. Aids had said earlier that she wanted to get some alone time with Edge and I felt the same way about Adam. So this was the only way we could figure it into our plan.

Adam was taking a swig out of his flask of coffee and I watched his throat move rhythmically. Oh that was a pretty sight. He must have felt my eyes on him because he turned to look at me. I smiled and decided to be brave today.

"Hi Adam. I haven't talked to you in a while. What've you been up to?" Like I didn't already know you've been planning against me with Edge behind my back! humph! At least I knew that Aids was making him pay for it. He was looking a bit more haggard today..life was good.

"I've been around. Rehearsing for the gig tonight mostly. Larry's become obsessed."

"That's just because he cares so much. It's tough love. That's the best kind you know." Adam nodded and glanced at Aids. I hid my smile behind my sandwich and tried not to laugh.

Aids giggled at something Edge said just as Larry sat down. He looked over at her to see what was so funny and frowned when he saw Edge there instead of Adam. He looked over at me and Adam and looked back and forth between us. He shook his head, looking confused.

"Oh Edge you're hilarious!" Aids giggled again and patted Edge on the arm. He blushed. I heard Larry sigh and saw him look briefly up at the ceiling like he was praying to God for intervention. Poor Larry didn't have any idea what was going on, and we were just getting started.

Chapter Five

That afternoon after school Aids and I hurried home to get ready for the big night. I decided on wearing a skirt and deep red top. When I went to Aids' house I saw she was wearing a skirt too and a dark purple top that looked fantastic on her. Adam was going to go crazy over her and I hoped Edge liked what I was wearing. We went outside to wait for out dates.

At a quarter to 5 they arrived. Adam pulled up in a huge beat up van and honked the horn. Aids and I looked at one another and grinned.

"This is it....are you ready to pretend you want in Adam's pants?"

"Only if you're ready to make out with Edge until he begs for mercy."

"Um...yeah why not? Lets go!" We walked out to the sidewalk and the van side door slid open. Bono, Ali, Gavin, and Edge were already crammed back there with all the equipment. Except Larry's drums. Those stayed with him and were probably on their way in his Da's car.

Adam opened the passenger door and whistled "Wow you ladies look fantastic."

"Thanks Adam." I smiled.

"Thank you Adam." Aids climbed up next to Adam and I hiked my skirt up enough to climb aboard in back.

There weren't enough seat belts so it was two people to one and Bono and Ali were already sharing one. Edge and Gavin had there own. I sat next to Edge and scooted close to him so that our hips touched. He flushed lightly. This was going to be too easy. Edge was so shy. He was cute that way, I thought.

The ride was filled with Bono's excited chatter and the blast of the radio. I tried to look up front to see how Aids was doing but I couldn't get a good enough view and gave up. The back of the van smelled oddly like flowers, cigarettes and Adam's cologne. It was making me feel nauseous and I really wished we could roll a window down.

The drive wasn't very long and soon we were pilling out of the back, lugging all of the equipment inside. The stage was made up of a bunch of tables pushed together and looked like it would be dangerous to stand on for very long.

"Are you sure that's safe?" I eyed the legs, wondering how much weight they could hold.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Bono climbed up onto in and started jumping up and down. I closed my eyes, not prepared to see him fall to his death.

"It's Okay. He's fine. If he breaks his neck we can get Edge to sing." Adam stood next to me and was drinking his beloved coffee.

"Do you mind of I have some of that?"

"No, of course not." He handed it to me and I took a large sip. "I didn't know you liked coffee."

I handed it back to him and smiled wickedly. "There's a lot you don't know about me Adam." His eyes widened behind his glasses. I sashayed my way past him and couldn't keep the wide grin off my face.

By the time Larry arrived and everything was set up, people had stared arriving. Guggi made it with a group of his friends and I mingled around. I kept an eye on Edge as long as I could. Nothing would work if he was stolen from me now.

"Hi Red!" Guggi wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me up against his side. "You look incredible. When'd you turn into a girl?"

"Very funny. Have you seen Edge anywhere?" I'd lost sight of him and was starting to panic.

Guggi grimaced "Can't wait to leave me? I think I saw him getting a drink."

"I'm not trying to get away from you. You know I love you. I'm just trying to keep my boyfriend from getting stolen from me."

His eyes widened. "Boyfriend? Edge? Since when?"

"Yes, Edge is my boyfriend and he has been since Monday."

"Ahhh Monday. Wow. Happy four day anniversary."

"Shut up."

"Sorry but it's not very long. What about Adam?"

"What about Adam?" I was a little disturbed that even Guggi had been able to see how I felt about Adam.

"Is he seeing anyone?"

"Actually yes he is. He's dating Aids."

"Hmm..I was right then. The whole world has turned to shite." I laughed. I couldn't help it. It was just too true.

"Cheers mate." I leaned up and kissed his cheek. Than I left to find Edge.

When I found him he was slipping his guitar over his head. He looked up and saw me.

"Hey."

"Hi. I wanted to wish you good luck and give you this." I rose up and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
He blushed and smiled. "Thanks."

I smiled back. "You're welcome." He adjusted and readjusted his strap and I eyed him closely. "Are you a little nervous?"

He stared down at his guitar and shrugged. "Maybe a little."

"You'll be wonderful. I know it." The crowd was getting restless now and it was time for the band to take the stage. I grabbed Edge's hand and squeezed. He looked into my eyes and I saw real fear there. "Just have fun and don't think about the bad stuff. I'll be cheering for you." Bono practically screamed Edge's name and he jumped. I laughed.

"Go! Have fun!." I watched Edge jog out onto the stage and than the music started and the crowd went wild. I ran over to the front to get a good view. I watched the four boys that made The Hype get everyone going. Adam swung his bass and Larry beat his drums. Edge danced with his guitar and Bono was every where at once. They had something that only happened when they were together. Sparks flew and you just wanted to scream along. I screamed and jumped up and down. The air became thick and everyone was covered in sweat within moments. I wiped my brow and clapped my hands raw.

By the end of the set everyone was exhausted but happy. The band jumped down to mingle with the crowd and after a while we were told that the hotel was providing some free drinks. Non alcoholic of course.

I was standing in a group of people surrounding Bono and Edge when I caught sight of Aids leading Adam out of the room by the hand. Oh shite! That was my signal to get busy making out with Edge. I looked around frantically for Ali. I squeezed and maneuvered my way through the crowd until I found her.

"Code red. I need to get Edge alone."

"oh! um..all right, let me go talk to Bono." I nodded and waited. She was back almost immediately smiling in relief and carrying a camera. "He's waiting for you over by the drinks. Here." She handed to camera to me. "Oh and Bono says to tell you that you owe him a kiss for him helping you."

"What? What did he do?"

"He got Edge to wait. He wanted to take you home."

I sighed. "Fine I'll kiss him later. All right...here goes nothing." I took a deep breathe and put a hand on my jumpy stomach. "Wish me luck."'

"Good luck."

I prayed this was going to work. It had to. We couldn't have gone to all this trouble for nothing. And now I had to kiss Edge and Bono. Like it wasn't hard enough when I had to kiss Edge, who was one of my best friends. Now I had to kiss Bono too..oh god. I took another deep breathe and checked that the camera was secure in my purse before I navigated my way to the drink table.

Edge was surrounded by people all wanting his attention. Can't a person get a moments peace?! I pushed my way through and grabbed Edge's hand.

"Excuse us for a moment." I smiled a little crazily and pulled Edge along behind me.

"Amber..em is there something wrong? Why are we going so fast?"

"No reason. I'm just not used to you getting so much attention I think. You were great tonight." I slowed down and tried to relax. "I thought we could be alone for a little while." Hoping that Ali had taken care of everything I went down the back hallway and opened the door that said 'storage.' Inside the lights were on low and there was a small sofa pulled into the middle of the room. I sighed in relief and smiled at Edge.

"Wow, did you do this?" Edge looked around in surprise.

"I asked a friend to take care of it for us. Do you like it?"

"It's very nice." Score one for me. I had to remember to thank Ali in the morning..oh yeah and kiss Bono..ugh.

"Let's sit down and talk." The last thing I wanted to do was talk. I needed to hurry and get Edge to crack before Aids got Adam naked.

I sat down and patted the spot next to me. He sat down and neither one of us said anything for a while. I could tell he was timid and I wondered if he'd ever done this before. I decided to make the first move and reached out tentatively to take his hand. We smiled at each other nervously and I saw Edge's gaze flicker to my mouth and back up to my eyes. He was thinking about kissing me. Oh my god...now what? Stupid question...you know what's next! Kiss him!

We both leaned forward at the same time. His eyes burned into mine. I reached up to brush the sweaty hair away from his eyes and his grip tightened on my hand. I saw the question in his eyes and felt my heart melt a little. He was so sweet. I squeezed his hand back and smiled. I tried not to think about how weird this was, closed my eyes and waited.

Just before his lips touched mine my breath hitched and I inhaled his scent and it sent my own senses reeling. I never thought it would be like this. So soft and gentle. It wasn't Adam though and that made all the difference. His face flashed before my closed eyes and I almost pulled away. I pushed that away and focused on Edge instead.

It went on for a long while, and his free hand roamed down to stroke the small of my back and I sunk deeper into him. I shivered when we parted and Edge rested his forehead on mine.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this." The spell was broken. My eyes popped open and I leaned back to look at him.

"What are you talking about?"

"I can't kiss you. I can't be with you...not without thinking about her." Finally the truth comes out! And I didn't even have to tackle him. Actually I was the one who'd had more trouble recovering after that kiss, but I hadn't been thinking about someone else...for very long that is.

"You like someone else?" I didn't even sound the littlest bit mad and Edge looked concerned.

"Yeah..I should have told you but Adam had this idea...and lets just say I was desperate."

"Who do you like?" He looked uncomfortable and I sighed in exasperation. "Edge just tell me. I promise I wont get mad."

"Adrienne. I like Aids."

"Oh that's nice..and have you ever told her and asked her if she likes you?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Have you ever done something like that?"

I sighed, "You've got me there. Well, thank god this is done. No offense but I don't like kissing one of my good friends like that if I don't like them. Lets go and get this mess straightened out. I don't want to miss Adam's peep show. Come on!" I stood up and left with a completely bewildered Edge following

"Em...what if I don't want to see an Adam peep show?"

(Larry's POV)
Larry backed away from the door and stared. He'd just heard Edge tell Amber he liked Aids and something about a naked Adam. What the fuck was going on?
He'd gone looking for Edge to ask him something...he couldn't remember what it was now. Shite. Everything was so screwed up. He shook his head and went back to the party to find Anne. If there was one thing he knew by now..it was to stay out of other peoples business.

This chapter is PG-13 for mild language, a flash of a naked Adam....and some very innocent drug use..uh..if that can be innocent. lol. It's not that bad. I promise.

Chapter Six

I opened the door to the storage room and looked both ways to make sure no one saw us.

"It's safe. Come on." I jogged down the hall but Edge stayed behind.

"I don't know if I want to be a part of this."

"Oh come on Edge! It'll be fun." I looked at him. "Do it for me?"

"That doesn't work anymore. I'm not your boyfriend."

"Fine. I'm still your friend though aren't I? Well?"

"That's not fair..." He looked down at his feet and sighed. "..Okay, I'll go."

"Great! Come on." He sighed again and followed me.

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Aids got a room for her and Adam. number 12..here's 9...11...here it is. Number 12. Have you got the camera I gave you?" I glanced at him when he didn't answer and saw him frowning.

"Yes, I have it..I'm not exactly thrilled about taking this picture though."

"You don't have too if you don't want to. I can do it." I snatched the camera from him and leaned into the door to listen. I could hear a voice but it was muffled. "What time is it?' I whispered to Edge.

"8:15. Why?"

'Perfect. It should be happening any second now." I pressed my ear harder to the door and everything got louder. I heard Aids say.

"I like you so much Adam...no don't say anything. Let me tell you this first. I like you and I want you to make love to me." I held my breathe waiting for Adam's answer. Edge fidgeted next to me and leaned in to listen too.

"I like you too Aids but I don't know about this..."

"Adam you don't need to worry about my reputation. I've been with lots of guys before, but now I want you." Edge stiffened next to me and I looked at him. He was pale and wide eyed. I reached over and took his hand. He looked at me blankly. I mouthed the words 'not true.' He blinked back owlishly.

Inside I could hear Adam agree to sleep with Aids and I wanted to strangle him.

"Why don't you get undressed and I'll go freshen up in the bathroom?" Adam's answer was muffled but I really didn't need to hear it anyway. I knew what it was. Prick.

Edge pulled back from the door looking disgusted.

"I'm not listening to anymore. This is wrong." He turned to leave.

"Wait," I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Edge they're not really going to do anything. You'll see if you just stay a little longer."

"I don't want to stay longer. This has gone too far and all because Adam and I were too chicken to say what we were really feeling. Please let me go. I'm leaving."

Oh crap. I hadn't counted on this. I had to keep listening at the door and try to talk to Edge at the same time. And I was getting a major cramp in my arm from holding it at an odd angle against the door. Perfect...ugh.

"Okay maybe it has gone too far but it's almost over..then you can tell Aids how you feel about her." I whispered loudly.

Edge shook his head. "No, I can't tell her now"

"Why not for fecks sake?" If he was going to ruin everything I might just have to kill him for it.

"If she liked me so much than why is she in there with Adam?" He glared at the door like he could see the couple on the other side. I didn't hear any voices now so I assumed Aids was still hiding out in the bathroom.

"It's part of the whole thing to get back at Adam. She doesn't really like him. If she did do you think I would be standing on this side of the door?" Edge still didn't look convinced.

"What about you? What about us?..earlier..was that real or were you just playing a game with me?" He looked wounded and angry. I thought for a moment about what to say.

"It was real to me Edge. I can't just turn my feelings off like that. You're important to me...but it's different with Adam. Do you know what I mean?"

"I think so." He nodded slowly. "It's too bad though." I heard rustling on the other side of the door and my attention was suddenly split.

"Ah?...what's too bad?"

"We would have been good together, and your mum really likes me." I giggled at this and slapped a hand over my mouth. If they heard me inside our cover would be shot to hell. What was taking so long anyway?

"Oh...I thought you were going to..." I listened to Adam's voice fade off and wondered what was going on. I shushed Edge and pressed closer. I motioned for him to do the same. He shook his head firmly and I shrugged. You snooze you lose mate. I heard Aids start talking again.

"Oh...Adam I've got a little surprise for you. Just turn around for a moment and you'll be very happy." This was it. I tightened my grip on the camera. I heard Adam shout and I jerked my head away just as the door opened and Aids flew out. She was carrying all of Adam's clothes and grinning triumphantly.

"I got 'em! Ha ha!!"

"Aids! What the fuck?!" Adam came out into the hall and I snapped away. When he saw all of us standing there he shrieked and reached down to cover himself. I grinned and giggled. His angry eyes found mine.

"This is not funny! Very good trick by the way...not funny for me though." I could tell he was trying not to laugh himself and that made me laugh harder.

"It's hilarious and now we've got you back for trying to make us jealous." I said after I calmed down a little.

"Oh it that was this has all been about?" He looked surprised. "Than Aids, you're not really a psycho who wants my children?"

"Gross. No way. I'm so good I fooled everyone. Maybe I should be an actress."

"You went through all of this...and for what exactly?" Adam asked, looking puzzled.

"To get revenge." And to get him to tell me how he felt about me. I wasn't going to just blurt it out though.

"Well, if that's all. Can I have my clothes back please?" He asked, looking very posh under the circumstances. It wasn't every day you found yourself naked in a hallway.

"Nope. Not until you tell Amber how you really feel about her." Aids said. Adam looked at me again and I blushed. Oh don't blush now and look like an idiot! I lifted my chin defensively and looked him straight in the eye.

"How I really feel?" Adam asked looking back at Aids.

"Yes, spill it..or no clothes." She hugged the clothes tighter to her body.

He cleared his throat and reached to push up his glasses. " I have no choice then." Looking into my eyes he confessed. "I like you. Very much. Sometimes I can't stop thinking about you and I never get anything done because of it. Larry's always yelling at me to practice more but I can't because I'm always thinking about you. It's annoying and I wouldn't change it for anything. I think I'm in love with you." He bowed a little and raised an eyebrow. "Will that suffice?"

"Y-yes." I said, sounding a little breathless.

"Wow." Aids whispered and handed Adam his clothes back. He took them and inclined his head.

"Thank you. If you'll excuse me." He walked back into the room and gave us all and very good view of his tight butt. I couldn't resist and took another quick picture. Edge snorted and stared up at the ceiling. He looked embarrassed and was a little red in the face from everything. Poor guy.

I was amazed by everything that Adam had said and I couldn't wait to tell him how I felt about him. I became aware of the unnatural silence in the hall. Edge and Aids were watching each other shyly and I suddenly felt like the third wheel.

"um..I'll just go see if Adam's done yet." I knocked and opened the door. It didn't really matter if Adam wasn't dressed cause I had just seen the whole package. I did look down at the floor anyway to give him some privacy.

"Adam? Are you dressed?"

"Would it matter if I wasn't?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yes, it would. Before it was a prank and now we're just two friends...we are still friends right?" I bit at my bottom lip nervously when he didn't answer. Than I felt his hands on my shoulders and jumped.

I looked up. He was standing very close to me. Very very close.

"We are friends...and something more." He moved even closer and I could feel the heat radiating off of his body. Oh lord he'd never been this close to me before. No one had been this close to me before.

"Much more." He growled and leaned in. I panicked and turned my face away so that his lips smashed my cheek. He pulled back and frowned.

"What's the matter?"

"Adam..think about it. You were just going to shag my best friend and now you want me to kiss you? Just like that? I think it'll take a little time before that happens." If I could manage to keep him at least ten feet away from me at all times. That could happen..right?

"Oh...any chance a little more time means some time soon?" I smiled at the hopeful look on his face.

"Maybe. Lets build on what we have first and see what happens."

"Feck..if we have too." He sighed dramatically and stepped back. I took a deep breath. Thank god I could breathe my own air again. I was starting to feel a little suffocated.

I'd forgotten about Aids and Edge out in the hall. I hoped Edge had gotten up the courage to tell Aids how he felt. If he didn't say anything then I was going to have to tie those two together and lock them in my basement until something happened.

Adam pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and I sighed. This wasn't exactly the time for that. When he lit if I noticed that it looked different from his other ones and I panicked.

"Oh my god. Is that what I think it is?" Adam grinned as he inhaled and held his breath.

He blew it out on a low groan. "Ahhhhh..that's better. I've been dying for that all day. Do you want some?"

"Um..I've never tried it before..what's it like?"

"Try it for yourself and see." He dared me. Well, It wouldn't hurt to try it, just once to see how it felt. I took it from him and took a quick drag. I mimicked Adam by holding it in my lungs. It burned and my eyes started to water. I went into a coughing fit as I exhaled.

"Bleh! That's terrible!" Adam helpfully patted me on the back.

"Okay?" My eyes were too watery to see but I swore I could hear the grin in his voice.

"Fine. I'm fine." I croaked and he laughed.

"It gets easier after the first few pulls. Here have another." He handed it too me again and I held up a hand.

"Gross. No thank you. I like my healthy lungs and that was not fun at all."

He shrugged. "Have it your way. Want to go back to the party and see what everyone's up to?"

"I'm a little hungry. Can we go get something to eat?"

"Whatever you say love. Lets go."

I moved to the door but before I opened it I turned to Adam and looked him up and down. "All dressed?" I grinned and he actually blushed.

"Yes, I am, thank you for asking. And while we're on that subject. It's not fair that you've seen me naked as a babe and I've not seen you."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that we should even things out..." He grinned wickedly. "Show my some skin sugar."

"Adam! I wont do that!" I wasn't surprised he'd asked me really, and I found it cute but I wasn't about to show him anything.

"Why not?" He pouted, pushing out his bottom lip, and I was momentarily distracted by wanting to bite it. I shook my head hard to snap myself out of it.

"No. We haven't even kissed yet. I wont be showing you any piece of my skin except what you're seeing right now."

"What about your swimming clothes? When you wear those I'll see more."

"Yeah you will, but it's the middle of winter and people don't usually swim right now."

"I do. I'm crazy like that." I laughed and shoved his shoulder.

"Adam It's not going to happen and that's that."

"Shit on a stick. Okay I'll wait."

"Good. It'll be worth it I promise." His eyes got hot again when I said this and he started towards me. "Adam...stay back. Don't you do anything! I mean it!"

"Who's going to stop me?" He growled playfully and I shrieked in mock terror and ran for the door. I grabbed the handle and yanked.

I had just enough time to see Edge and Aids' startled faces and yell "Help!" while laughing, before Adam reached over my shoulder and slammed the door closed.

He wrapped his arms around me and started nibbling my neck. "ARG!! That tickles!! Adam stop!"

"Don't want to."

Someone started knocking on the door and than we heard, "Is everything all right in there?"

"Edge!!! Help me! Open the door!" I was laughing so hard now that I was afraid I'd pee my pants. Edge opened the door and peeked in.

"What's going on?"

"Help!!" I shouted and Aids burst through the door.

"What the hell are you doing to her Adam?" She looked at Adam with his arms around me and then smiled. "Oh. You guys look cute together. We'll just leave you alone."

"NO, YOU WONT! Get back here!!"

"We don't want to interrupt. We'll just wait in the hall." Edge said with a wicked glint in his eye.

"No! Uh..we were just leaving." I finally managed to get free of Adam's grip and ran out of the room. "Jeez! Why didn't you save me! I can really count on you in case of emergency." I glared at all three of them as they burst out laughing. "Oh forget it. Lets get something to eat. I'm starving."

We met up with the rest of the gang and headed to the nearest chip stand. I had one thing on my mind and that was food. I wasn't happy until I had some hot chips in my hands and then I was in heaven.

"Can I have one of those?" Adam asked.

"Pfff...no way. Get your own." I felt bad for saying that because I really hated to be selfish so I gave him some anyway. He was my boyfriend now after all so he was entitled to a few.

We were all walking back to the car and Adam and I were behind Edge and Aids. I could hear their conversation and I was trying to figure out if I should be listening or not when Aids said,

"um...so haven't I made it pretty obvious that I like you? I thought I had."

"You have? How?"

"Well, I always talk to you at lunch and smile at you..and you should just know."

"I should?" Edge sounded genuinely confused.

"Yes, you should." Aids nodded firmly.

"Did you know I liked you?"

"Well, I thought maybe you did but I wasn't sure. You're shy so it was harder to tell...do you like me?" I held my breath waiting for his answer.

"I did like you..I mean I do. Yeah. A lot." He stumbled over his words and then fell quiet.

Don't stop there you dummy! Keep going! I rolled my eyes when they faded off to awkward silence. Oh come on! It wasn't that hard for Adam! All we had to do was take his clothes from him...and threaten him. I giggled and glanced sideways at him. Poor guy had been through a lot before he told me how he felt. Adam grinned playfully in the dark at me and I giggled again. I was feeling a little funny. Must be all the fresh air.

My ears caught the sound of Edge clearing his throat lightly. "I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen and I'd be the luckiest guy alive if you liked me too."

Yay! Way to go Edge! He was so sweet. This whole thing was starting to make me emotional, which was odd for me because I never cried in public. I reached over for Adam's hand and he gave me a funny look. I was too focused on the couple up front that I didn't really notice.

"I like you too Edge. I have for a while. You have a sweet and gentle soul and I'm the lucky one to have you like me." I sniffled and Adam handed me a handkerchief. I smiled my thanks.

Back up front Edge and Aids were holding hands now just like Adam and I were. We were two perfect couples. Aww. I sniffed and blew my nose. Aids looked back at me in concern.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I sniffed. "Just getting sappy. Don't mind me."

Bono and Ali caught up to us just as we got to the parking lot and piled into the van. My vision was a little blurry now and everything looked like a cartoon character. Maybe I was coming down with that cold Bono had warned me about.

"Where are we going to eat? I'm starving." Ali asked as she buckled her and Bono's seat belt. Bono was still wired form the gig and she had to punch him in the arm to keep him still long enough. His sweat encrusted hair was sticking up at all angles and his eyes were a bit glazed over. Maybe he was coming down with a cold too.

"What?..I know! Lets got see Old Alec!!" Bono said. Old Alec was a nice man who owned a pub and let The Hype play there every once in a while. I liked him, but his food was terrible.

"We just went there last week." Edge interjected. "I'd rather go somewhere else if that's Okay." Aids and Edge were sitting in the back seat now and it was my turn up front. I rolled down the window and breathed in the fresh air.

"We were great tonight don't you think? I talked to some blokes who thought we were the best live act they've ever seen!" Bono said.

"Are you sure you talked to real people B and not your imaginary friends? We were crap tonight." Adam said.

"We weren't that bad. Some of the songs sounded fair." Edge was always the one to try and make the best of things. Another adorable quality of his.

"Yes, they were real people and they did like us. They couldn't say enough about my singing. They thought the guitar needed some work though." Bono said with a wicked grin.

"Excuse me? Are you insulting my playing?" Edge asked in a dangerous tone. The two started bickering in the back and I rolled my eyes and tuned it out. They had this argument after every gig and it always ended the same. They'd argue the whole way home and not say a single word to each other for a day. Than they'd be best friends again. They were so predictable.

"A gift?" I sat up straighter and tried to focus my vision. I like gifts very much thank you and I wasn't going to miss the opportunity to get one! "What is it?"

Laughter came from the back and Bono said, "I know what his gift is! I hear that he's given his 'gift' to quite a many girls with their legs in the air and their skirts about their heads!" Bono exploded into laughter and the rest of the van fell silent.

Adam's face turned red and white by turn in anger and embarrassment. I couldn't believe Bono would say something like that, and with me sitting right here. I felt irritated with him for messing up a perfectly good night.

"Get out. Get out right now you fecking wanker.." He white knuckled the steering wheel and pulled over to the side of the road. I wasn't sure if I should say anything or not. I didn't particularly want Adam's anger directed at me so I kept quiet and waited. The back seat was quiet except for Ali whispering to Bono to apologize.

"Are you telling me to get out Mr. Clayton?" Bono smirked at Adam in the rearview mirror and I grimaced. Not the right thing to do Bono, you idiot.

"Yes, I did. Now please be so kind as to get out of my vehicle." Bono and Adam started a glaring contest in the mirror and I started to feel a little sick.

"Adam he didn't mean it. He's a bit out of it from all the excitement. Aren't you Bono?"
Ali, always the one to try and make peace, spoke softly and tried to bring Bono's temper down. Edge and Aids sat quietly, deciding to stay out of it.

"Don't bother with it Ali. I know when I'm not wanted. I'll walk." He jerked off his seat belt and reached out for the door handle. It was freezing out and we were about a 20 minute drive from his house. At this time of night it would take him at least double that to walk home.

"Adam." I reached over and laid my hand over his. "Lets get everyone home. Forget about what he said. It doesn't matter. Please lets go." I pleaded with him. His blue eyes stared into mine and he shrugged.

"Fine." He wasn't really mad anymore. I could tell by the way his shoulders relaxed. "Bono sit back down and buckle up. As long as you're in my car I'm responsible for you. So fecking behave." He started up the van and I sat back in relief. Bono did as he was told for once and didn't say another word. He was probably giving us the silent treatment. Too bad for him that we all saw that as a reward instead of punishment.

"You be in charge of the music." Adam told me. "I need to focus on the road. It's a little icy tonight." He looked in the rearview mirror and narrowed his eyes.

"Something wrong?" I looked back nervously to see what he was looking at.

"No, everything's fine."

"Are you sure?" I hated driving at night. I had an irrational fear of getting in a car crash.

"Yeah." Adam smiled reassuringly at me. "I'm a safe driver." I started breathing again and turned on the radio. All I got was static.

"I've got some tapes in the glove compartment there."

"Okay thanks." I searched through and found my favorite David Bowie and popped it in. "Is this okay for everybody?"

"Ooooh I love this one." Aids said happily.

"Me too. I love his eyes. They're so interesting." Ali sighed.

"Perfect Red." Bono mumbled grumpily. That reminded me.

"That reminds me...where's Gavin? Don't tell me we forgot him."

"No. He begged off a ride with Guggi.." Adam murmured around his fresh cigarette. How many of those did he smoke in a day? Sheesh. I was going to have to talk to him about that.

"Not now Bono.." I fidgeted. I had just gotten kissing Bono out of my mind too. Dangit.

"Yes, now. You owe me for helping you." He crossed his arms and waited.

"I can't do it now. I'm up here and you're back there. How am I supposed to kiss you?"

"Ahh..who's kissing who here?" Adam asked frowning. Oh crap.

"Didn't Red tell you? She owes me a kiss for helping her get back at you and Edge." Bono flashed me a flirtatious grin. I looked away, my cheeks burning.

"Why a kiss?" Edge asked.

"Because she gives the best kisses. Right The Edge?." Bono smirked.

Edge flushed and I groaned and covered my eyes with my hand. This was getting out of control.

"Bono if I kiss you will you leave me alone?"

"You have my word."

"Fine." I undid my belt and turned around. "Come here." Grinning, Bono got out of his seat and leaned towards me. His blue eyes twinkled at me and I sighed. "Okay...one kiss right?"

"Yeah..and on the lips too." I kept my eyes open and leaned in. He kept his eyes open too and I saw the humor sparkling there as our lips touched. I pressed in closer just for a second then pulled away. Wow...Bono was a very good kisser. I tried not to blush when I looked him in the eye again.

"There. Are you happy now?"

"Yes. Thank you Sweet heart." He sat back and grinned at everyone triumphantly. Cocky prick. Until he looked at Ali and saw the frown on her face. Than he was back to adoring her.

"I find it disturbing that every guy in this car has kissed you but me." Adam said and I blushed. He looked at me and raised a brow. I knew what he wanted and it was really only fair. So I leaned over, plucked the cigarette from his mouth and gave him a quick kiss.

"Is everyone happy now?" I asked. Everyone nodded and I sat back in my seat in relief.

"You better be planning to open your window when you smoke that!" Aids said when Adam put his cigarette back in his mouth.

"Yes, miss princess. I will." He turned and whispered to me. "I really dodged a bullet giving her the shaft didn't I?"

"I heard that afro man! And you didn't give me the shaft, because I never really liked you in the first place!"

"Do you hear something? I think there's a bug in here. I think I have some spray in here to kill it with." Adam smirked and opened his window a crack.

"I heard her." I grinned at him.

"I heard it too!" Bono said. He was over his pouting now. Wow that must have lasted at least five minutes. A personal best for him.

"Well, at least I know how to keep my girlfriend. How many have you had in the last five hours?"

"I've had two and they're both beautiful people. What does that have to do with anything anyway?"

"Aww Edge you're so sweet. Thank you." I cooed and Aids sighed.

"Isn't he the cutest?" She laid her head against his shoulder and snuggled against him. He wrapped his arm around her and smiled cheekily at Bono.

Bono mimicked them by yanking Ali against him and shoving her head down on his shoulder. What a romantic thing to do. Pff. Poor Ali was going to have a really bad neck ache in a second. Sometimes the whole competitive man thing really got on my nerves.

"How does everyone feel about grabbing a bite to eat at my house? I could get Becky to fix something for us." Who the hell was Becky? Wait...go to Adam's house? At night? Um..was I crazy!? No, but I was hungry again.

"I really have to get home or my Da will kill me, and I've got a family picnic in the morning to get ready for." Ali said.

"I'm not in the mood. Just drop me off with Ali and I'll walk." Bono's turn to bail. We were down to four.

"What about you Edge?" Adam glanced at him.

"I can stay for a while longer."

"Aids?"

"Sure why not. I never pass up free food."

"Amber? What about you?" He looked at me with puppy dog eyes and a stuck out his damn lip again. That lip was driving me crazy. I thought about saying no just so I could see what else he would do to change my mind, but I could only take so much of his charms.

"I can stay for a quick bite." Damn that lip did it again. Adam pulled up to the curb in front of Ali's house.

"Stop one. Everyone off at Ali's house. Sleep well guys."

"Have a good night Adam and thanks for the ride." Ali said as she climbed out.

"My pleasure." We all said our good-byes and Bono turned back at the last second.

"Listen Adam..Red...I'm sorry about what I said-"

"It's okay Bono. Forget about it." I said quickly, wanting the awkwardness to be over. Bono nodded and the couple turned and walked up the path. Adam pulled out into the road and I stuck my head out the window and waved.

"Bye! See ya!" I pulled back in and sighed. "It's such a nice night out." I suddenly felt like I had a ton of energy. I wanted to do something crazy and out there and I remembered what Adam had said earlier. "Hey! Lets go swimming!" Adam snorted so hard he almost inhaled his cigarette whole and crashed the van. Edge and Aids exchanged incredulous looks.

"I thought you said people didn't swim this time of year?" Adam asked.

"People don't, but I just feel so..alive! I want to do something crazy!" I stuck my head out the window again and yelled. "Wake up everybody! Woohoo!" I came back in and Adam laughed

"What the hell did you do to her Adam?" Aids demanded to know.

"Nothing. I haven't done anything."

"Why's she acting crazy than? She's never like this. Who wants to go swimming in the middle of winter!?"

"I do!! Aids stop freaking out. I'm okay. It's prolly a cold I'm coming down with. Bono told me about it. He also told me about a white and red sky...how weird would that me? I'd like to see that one day." Adam glanced sharply at me and grinned.

"Oh shit. I know what's wrong. She's baked."

"Baked!? What do you mean she's baked!?" Aids asked, on the verge of grinning.

"Oh that's right! You gave me some mar-uannii-juaaaana..pot earlier! Wow I didn't even feel it until now. Why's that?"

"Pot?" Edge sighed and rubbed his eyes "You have her pot? Adam, what were you thinking?"

"Would you please stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Honestly these people were being very rude. Sheesh.

"She only had a little. It shouldn't even still be in her system. The reaction must've stalled or something."

"Oh my god. Her parents can't see her like this! She'll be grounded forever!" Aids groaned and I sighed loudly through my nose and covered my face with my sleeve.

I didn't want to listen to them talk about me like I was just a little kid because I wasn't! I was old enough to make my own decisions and if I wanted to be high than I wanted to be high. No one had the right to order me around..except my parents. But they only got to do that because they gave birth to me...well my Mom did. I pictured my Dad laying on a birthing bed with his legs spread, pushing as he tried to give birth to me and I started giggling. What a sight that would be!

"What's she laughing at?" Aids asked worriedly.

"Don't worry. It's a common side effect. Weird food cravings is another and sometimes depression." Edge said matter of factly.

"Edge you're not helping. Don't tell me any more of the bad things Okay? I don't need to hear that." Aids sighed.

"Sorry."

I got control of my giggling only to be set off again when I looked over at Adam and saw that his glasses looked twice the size than they normally did. He looked like he had two magnifying glasses stuck to his face.

"Hahahahaha! Oh my god my stomach hurts! Please..stop making me laugh!" I held my stomach and went into another fit of laughing.

"I'm not meaning to Am. Tell me what's so funny and I'll try making it go away." Adam said.

"Your glasses! They're huge!"

"I'm afraid I need those to drive, but we're almost there. Than we'll get some food in you and you'll feel better."

"I don't feel sick...am I sick?"

"Oh my god she's getting worse!" Aids' voice was panicked and I tried to concentrate on what she was saying. "What can we do to make it go away faster?"

"Nothing I-"

"Adam you didn't answer me! Am I sick? Do I have a fever?" I felt my forehead and frowned. "I can't tell Adam. Feel me. Am I hot?" Keeping one eye on the road and one hand on the wheel, Adam reached over and felt my head.

"You feel a little warm." His hand felt cool and I sighed and pulled it down to cup my cheek.

"You feel good Adam. Ahhh..don't stop."

"I don't want to know what's going on up there." Edge said dryly.

"I do! What're you doing to her now!?" Aids leaned forward, scowling and ready to take Adam down.

"Shush. I'm not doing anything but checking her for a fever." I sighed again and turned to kiss Adam's palm. He smiled at me. "Don't worry love. I don't want to stop touching you but I need my hand for driving. When we get to my house I'll do whatever you want with my hands." He twinkled wickedly at me. I giggled and gave him his hand back.

"Maybe I'd just like to go home now Adam." Edge said.

"Me too, and I think Amber should come with me. She can stay at my house tonight." Aids said and Adam sighed.

"I think I should take care of her first. I know what I'm doing. I didn't think about it at the time but what she smoked is out of my strong stash and it was her first time so this is normal. Maybe some more fresh air would help" He rolled down the window all the way and the cold air rushed in.

"Normal? This is normal!? Adam what the hell did you give her exactly? If anything happens to her I'm holding you personally responsible!" Aids scowled.

"Relax. She'll be fine in a couple hours."

"Aids don't be mad at Adam. He's trying to be nice. He's always so nice..except when he tried to make me jealous..and when he tried to shag me earlier..ooh that was very naughty of you..you're my bad boy." I sang out and Adam snorted

"Call me that again."

"What? Bad Boy?"

"Yeah. I like it."

"Oh yeah?" I grinned and tried to look sexy. "That's what I'll call you from now on then..my sexy Bad boy." Edge and Aids both groaned loudly in the back seat.

"This is obviously torture now." Edge sighed sadly. "There's no way out either. We're doomed. Before we die of boredom I want to tell you that..I love you Adrienne." She stared at him, wide eyed and made a strangled noise.

"Edge I think you might be high too. I-I love you too..but this is crazy. Adam can you please just drop us off and we can take the bus?" Aids begged him.

"No bus runs this late. You'll end up walking and freezing your bits off." I found this ridiculously funny and snorted with laugher.

"I'd rather freeze my bits off than listen to her call you Bad boy one more time." Edge grumbled and I laughed harder.

"We're here anyway so no one's going anywhere but inside." Adam pulled into his driveway and cut the engine. "Lets all go inside and have some food and drinks. I'll drive everyone home after that."

The cool air helped to clear my head a little and I was at least in control of my motor skills as I followed Adam through the front door.

"Are you sure it's ok that we're here? I don't want you to get into any trouble." I said and glanced around anxiously. This place was huge and looked like it could belong to a royal family. There were odd paintings of animals on the brightly colored walls and African artifacts set on every surface.

"Wow this place is amazing." Aids whispered. Yeah it was. And this was just the front room. I could only imagine what the rest looked like.

"My parents wont mind you being here. My Da is away working and everyone else is sleeping by now. If we're quiet it'll be okay."

"Don't know." Adam shrugged. "I think my Mum is freaked out by Bono." I sniggered at this and Edge glanced at me sharply.

"Don't worry. I'm not off my rocker again" I held my arms straight out from my sides. "Watch I can walk a straight line. That means I'm completely sober." I took a few steps and tumbled over. Edge was the closest one and reached out to catch me. I looked up at him and giggled.

"Oh Edge you saved me. My knight in shining armor." Aids laughed and came over to look down at me.

"You're totally stoned you crazy girl. Why did you smoke it anyway?"

"Well, Adam was and I wanted to see what it was like. You should try it. Hey why don't you!" I grinned and looked around. "ADAM!? Where'd you go!"

"I'm right here." He called as he walked back into the room. "Bad news. Becky's out cold and I don't think you want to try my cooking."

"Who's Becky? Have I ever heard you mention her before?" I asked frowning.

"She's the live in maid."

"oh." I blushed and looked away from the knowing smirk on Adam's face. I felt stupid for being jealous, but how could I know who she was? It wasn't my fault..okay maybe a little. If I was going to be with Adam I had to get used to girls liking him. He was one of the cutest and most sought after guys in school. I could easily picture myself spending all day glaring at every girl who looked Adam's way. I would get a really big headache that way.

"Why don't we all go home and get together tomorrow for a movie or something?" Aids said.

"Sounds good to me." I said. "What do you guys think?"

"As long as it's not a foreign film." Adam said.

"oh please. You know you love those." Aids grinned.

"Soo tomorrow Aids I'll call you and we can clue the guys into what's going on. Okay?" We all agreed and piled back into Adam's car. The drive home was silent. The long night was finally catching up to everyone. Edge and Aids snuggled in the back and I zoned off out the window until Adam pulled up to my house.

"Here's your stop."

"Oh good." I yawned. "Thanks for everything Adam. See ya Aids..Edge."

"I'll get out here." Aids said and turned to kiss Edge quickly on the cheek. "Night Edge." She whispered to him.

"Night Aids." He smiled shyly back at her. I felt bad for not giving Adam a good night kiss so I climbed back in the car.

"Goodnight. Sleep well." I climbed back out onto the curb and Aids and I waved as they drove away.

"I miss him already." Aids sighed.

"Me too..Adam I mean."

Aids laughed. "It was a good night. I had fun..I'll talk to you tomorrow ok?"

"Yep. G' night."

"Night."

I walked a little unsteadily up to the house and slipped in. Luckily my Dad wasn't waiting up in the living room with a rifle. Mum was waiting for me in my room though. I walked in and there she was sitting on my bed reading a romance novel.

"Oh hi." I cleared my throat and straightened my clothes. I knew I was in for it. Here comes the yelling.

"Do you know what time it is?" She looked up and I flinched. She looked way angrier than I thought she would be.

"No..what time is it?" I decided to go with the innocent look. It had worked before and maybe tonight was my lucky night.

"It's 5 after 11! You are over an hour late! What were you doing?"

"Just hanging out that's all."

"Where were you?" She got up off my bed and came over to look me in the eye. I hated it when she did that.

"I was exactly where I said I was going to be. With Aids and the guys at the gig..then we went to get a bite to eat." She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes at me.

"You look odd. Have you been drinking?"

"What!? I would never do that!" The alarm bells were going off like crazy in my head. I tried to ignore them and pretended to yawn. "I'm really tired Mom. Can I just go to bed now and we can talk in the morning?"

She eyed me closely and I felt like she was shining a light in my face and demanding information. I wanted to give it up I just didn't know what she wanted to know. Well, besides that I'd been smoking weed and had been in a boys house late at night. Anything else I would be totally happy to give her.

"We'll talk in the morning and I want some real answers from you. Get some rest." She finally left and I barely made it to the bed. I collapsed face first and groaned as I rolled over. My quilts surrounded me completely in warmth. I thought about Adam and smiled dreamily. He really was the cutest boy in the world. And he was all mine. I sighed contentedly and drifted away.

I was back in the storage room with Edge. We were on the couch and sitting close.

"You're the one I want." He said Huskily and I sighed as I leaned in and kissed him. His lips caressed mine. I pulled back after a while and smiled dreamily at him.

"This is perfect. I love you Edge."

"I love you too Amber." The dream faded away and I opened my eyes in my own bedroom. I groaned happily as I stretched in my bed. What a nice dream. Reality hit me hard. I gasped and sat up.

"Oh my God!" I'd just had a dream about Edge! Why would that happen? I wanted Adam..I think.

"No! I do want Adam! What's wrong with me?" I jumped out of bed and my head started pounding.

"Ooooh. Stupid head. Never again..goning to kill Adam..giving me that shite." I went into my bathroom and downed some Tylenol and washed my face. I stared at my dripping face in the mirror and thought about the dream.

It was probably just because I had kissed Edge last night. That's all. Maybe there was a part of me..a small part, I mean we're talking a microscopic part of me that might want to be with Edge. To be with him like I had in the past week, kiss him..hold his hand. I caught myself staring off daydreaming about him and smacked the side of my head to snap out of it.

"Stop that! Get a hold of yourself!" Okay I talked to myself way too much. I tried to put the dream out of my head and went downstairs in search of some breakfast. I caught a whiff of bacon and my stomach growled.

"Morning." I said to mum, who was at the sink washing dishes.

"Good morning. Sleep well?" Did I sleep well? Yeah. Except for dreaming about my best friends man, and I think I might want to do him..but other than that...

"Yeah..fine." I got a plate and started piling on toast, eggs and bacon. I felt like I hadn't eaten in days.

"Have you thought about what I said last night?" My Mom asked as she set a glass of orange juice down in front of me.

"Thanks. What do you mean? What'd we talk about?" I picked up my fork and dug into my mountain of eggs.

"Last night before you went to sleep I said we were going to talk in the morning about what happened last night. It's the morning now and I want to talk before your Da gets up." She sat down across from me and leaned forward. "I had some time to think last night and I have some questions to ask you." Oh great. What now? I washed down the last of my eggs with my juice and nodded at her.

"Ok. Go for it." I inhaled down my toast and glanced up. She was teary eyed and sniffling. I sat back and prepared myself. Whatever was coming was something huge.

"Mum? Are you ok?"

"Yes..I'm alright. I need to ask you..." She took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye. "Are you having physical relations with a boy?"

My jaw hit the table in shock. "What? What.did you just ask me?..I don't believe it." I laughed and she reached out to take my hand.

"I know this is embarrassing for both of us but I need to know. And I'd like to know who with..if you feel you can share it with me..." I stared in shock at my mum's red face. This was totally unbelievable. "Honey I know it's hard but I want you to know that I'm here for you. I remember what it was like to have a fine young boy turn my head. Especially one like your David."

"My David? Edge!?" I ripped my hand from hers and stood up. "No..It's not Edge." I paced around the floor. How could this be happening? It was so ridiculous.

"Who is it?" She looked eager to know and I wondered if my Da was waiting out in the hall for a name so he could go have a talk with the boy that would involve a shotgun. "You can tell me sweetheart. Is it that boy Paul?"

"Bono!?" I laughed hard. "Yeah right Mom. No, there's no one ok? I'm not having relations with anyone. I've never even got past kissing." I sat back down hard and sighed. "I've never had anyone that meant enough to me that I'd want to give myself to them. I'm not stupid Mum. I'm not going to just be with anyone. I want to love him and I want him to love me." I wiped away a tear and sniffled. Damn hormones. Mum was crying to and looking relieved. Well, I was glad she was happy but now I was depressed. I liked Adam but did I love him? Maybe in a few months..I sighed and let my head drop onto the table and banged it over and over. I wasn't exactly helping my headache.

"Amber what are you doing?" My Da asked as he walked in carrying the paper. Mum got up to fix him a plate and I cringed. Did she have to do everything for him?

"I'm banging my head Da."

"I can see that. Why?"

"Cause life is so complicated."

He snorted. "Life is always complicated. You just learn to live with it. What's on your mind?" Oh sure Da. I'll just spill my guts to you about my love problems. I don't think so.

"Nothing for you to worry about. I think I'll go take a shower. May I be excused?" He opened the paper and glanced at me.

"Yes, you may."

"Thanks." I got up and was almost to the door when I remembered. "Oh is it ok if I go to the movies tonight?" Mum went still and she watched me closely.

"And? Who else?" Crap. Mum why can't you leave this alone? Maybe because it was her job to make my life as miserable as possible.

"A couple of friends...it's a group thing." I wasn't fooling them for a second.

"Do I know these friends?" Typical Da question.

"Yes, you've met them before..." My voice faded off when he looked up at me.

"I want to meet these friends again. Have them come in for a cuppa when they arrive." No. No. No. NO!

"Um...Da the thing is...we're all meeting at the theater." Come on. Let it alone. Leave it.

"Well, then you'll just have to have them come here first. I want to meet this boy who's taking you to the show or you're not going." He went back to reading his paper and I knew the discussion was over. I went back up to my room and flung myself onto my bed. I screamed into my pillow for five minutes before my temper went down a little.

It wasn't fair. There was no way I was would get Adam to come and meet my parents. He would completely freak out. Commitment was not really his best thing. I wasn't even sure I wanted my parents to meet Adam either. He wasn't really a parents friendly boy and that's part of why I liked him so much, but one look at his afro and ripped jeans and my Da would never let me see him again. I had a bad feeling that all the qualities I liked in Adam would be the ones my parents couldn't stand.

I called up Aids to get her opinion on the whole thing.

"Why don't you just let them meet him? He's a nice person. Very good manners and he respects his elders. What's the problem?"

"I don't know!" I shifted the receiver to my other ear and looked over my shoulder. I didn't want anyone to overhear what I was about to say. "I feel really bad for even thinking this..but I think I might be ashamed of him. I didn't want my parents to meet him and I don't know why." I covered my eyes and sighed.

"Why not? Because of how he is? Like his clothes? That's nothing! Once your Mum starts talking to him she'll fall in love. Your Da might be harder but he'll come around."

"Yeah he is perfect isn't he?" I snapped out of my daydream and wiped the drool away. Oh my god I did it again. I really had to stop thinking like that. It was a stupid dream that didn't mean anything!

"Amber? Are you still there?"

"Oh yeah, sorry."

"I think I've got an idea. What if it was Edge that came over to meet your parents?" She sounded really excited and I thought she might be losing her mind.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you see? Edge would say he was your date and he could help make a good impression on your parents. Then they'll let you go no problem!" I swear Aids always got the good ideas and I was starting to feel like an idiot. An idiot with a really smart friend that is.

"That might work, but we'd have to get Edge to agree to do it first and he's already met Mum so we can't tell him how nice she is. He already knows she's the dragon queen."

Aids laughed "Leave that to me. I'll talk to him and have him at your house in time."

This might just work and I'd be saved. I would have to pretend Edge was my date again though and in front of both my parents this time.

"It might work but wait, what do we do about Adam?" I asked.

"He doesn't have to know. You can tell him to pick us up at my house and we'll do everything with Edge way before he gets here."

"Yeah. I don't know if I feel right about it. I shouldn't feel like this about Adam. Maybe I'm not ashamed. Maybe I'm just nervous and scared about what my Da will say."

"If that's all it is then you can use Edge this time until you and Adam have been together longer. You can introduce Adam some other time."

I bit my lip, thinking about it. It was way too soon to put Adam into a situation like that. So maybe this idea was the safer way to go this time.

"Ok, we'll go with Edge. Sorry that I have to borrow your boy again. I'll give him back I promise."

"You better Red. I'll call him and you should call Adam. oh! I called the theater and the movie starts at 8."

"What're we seeing?"

"Does it matter? We'll be making out the whole time anyway." We both giggled and I suddenly couldn't wait to see Adam again. I said good-bye to Aids and hung up.

I dialed Adam's number next and waited. A woman answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi. Is Adam there?"

"I'll see. Who may I say is calling?"

"Amber." The line went quiet and I started humming a tune that had been stuck in my head all morning.

"Nice humming. Trying to take over for Bono?"

"No but maybe someday" I grinned at the sound of his chuckle. I hadn't realized how much it was possible to miss a person in only 12 hours.

"What're you doing?" he asked.

"Calling you. I wanted to tell you that the movies starts at 8 tonight. Can you go?"

"Wouldn't miss it. I'll be there with bells on."

"Just yourself will be fine." I smiled.

"Sure. Spoil my fun why don't you. How're you feeling?"

"I woke up with a pounding headache." I grimaced, remembering the dull throbbing pain that had just gone away an few minutes ago.

"Feck, I'm sorry. I didn't even think about it"

"I forgive you, and I'll be staying away from that for a while."

I did understand now a little better why he smoked it, but it still made me angry to know that he was spending his hard earned money on drugs.

"I'll see you tonight I guess. What time do you think you'll be at Aids house? That's where we're meeting." I looked at the clock. It was only 12:30. We still had a ton of time.

"Around 7:30. It'll take some time to get there."

"See you then. Bye." I hung up and went back to my room. I needed to pick out an outfit for tonight. I decided on my favorite red dress. It wasn't too short and it wasn't too long..great I was starting to sound like Goldilocks and the three bears. The phone started ringing while I was trying my dress on.

"Amber it's for you!" I ran out of the bathroom and down the hall with my dress half zipped. "Oh yes our Amber is a very talented girl. It's nice to talk to someone who appreciates her." I panicked and waved my arms around trying to get her attention. She looked up and smiled. "Here she is now." Mum handed me the phone with a sly look on her face. "It's your friend Paul." I groaned and raised it to my ear.

"Bono? What do you want?"

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed didn't one?"

I rolled my eyes. "Bono, I'm not in the mood."

"Come on. Where's the Red I've come to know and love?"

I sighed and started rubbing my forehead. My headache was coming back. "She's on vacation. What do you want? I'm kinda in the middle of something here."

"I'm calling everyone in the Village to remind them about the meeting tomorrow afternoon."

"Oh. Is it in the usual place?"

"Yeah and you need to bring your badge. I'm calling Aids next. Is she home?"

"She should be. I just talked to her." I felt like I'd talked to the whole town by now.

"ok bye." The line went dead. I rolled my eyes again and hung up. I turned around to go back to my room and almost ran into Mum.

"God you scared me! Were you listening to my conversation?" I asked suspiciously.

"Of course not love. I was on my way to the laundry room." She walked past me and I watched her through narrowed eyes. I wouldn't be surprised if she went through my stuff to get information about what she thought might be going on. Back in my room I went through all my stuff and got rid of any evidence of The Village. Once I was done I felt a lot better. If Mum ever found out about The Village she'd probably never let me leave the house again.

I spent the rest of the afternoon in the kitchen perfecting my cheesecake recipe. I wanted it to be just right for my birthday in a couple weeks and I was almost there. I had a dream of being a chef one day and everyone I knew said I was good enough to do it. I was really hard on myself though and could spend up to week trying to get something right.

My little Brother Jacob wandered into the kitchen just as I was pulling the cake out of the oven.

"Smells good."

"It's still too hot to eat but you can have some for dessert if you want." He shrugged in answer and disappeared behind the refrigerator door. He barely said anything anymore. Everyone said it was normal for a 13 year old but sometimes I worried.

"What're you up to?" I asked.

"Nothing."
"How about we go play some basketball?"

"Don't feel like it." I sighed. If I asked him too many questions he would get irritated. Usually he had a three question limit.

"How's school going?"

"Ok I guess. The teachers are idiots."

I raised my brows at this. "Why are they idiots?"

He shrugged. "Cause they are."

"oh. Maybe you'll have better ones next year."

Another shrug. "Maybe." He left to watch TV then and I sighed in relief. He was my Brother and I loved him, but lately we didn't really have much to talk about.

At 5 I took another shower to get the cake smell off me. It was never too early to get ready and besides I would probably change my mind about what I was wearing at least 20 times before I left. I hung out in my room listening to my records for a while. When I thought I was going to die of boredom I went downstairs to watch TV. At 6:30 the phone rang.

"I'll get it!!!" I raced over and snatched it up. "Hello?"

"Hi, it's Edge." I thought of my dream and my face heated up. Don't think about it! I pushed it firmly to the back of my mind.

"oh, hey. Did Aids call you?"

"Yeah she told me what's going on. Are you sure you want to do this? Adam's a nice guy and I think maybe you're underestimating him."

"If I am or not isn't the point. What is, is that I don't think he could handle it. Look at how long it took him to tell me he likes me. Now the next day I'm going to introduce him to my parents? Not only will he freak out but I'll look like I'm obsessed with him or something."

Edge sighed heavily on the other end. "I'll do it then, but if Adam asks me about it I'm not lying to him." I had no intention of Adam ever finding out so that was fine with me.

"All right. Edge thank you so much. This means a lot to me. I'll owe you one."

"Yeah you will, and so will Aids. I almost forgot...Aids wanted me to ask you if you wanted to spend the night at her house. She said it's ok with her mum and dad."

"That'll be perfect! I'll have to ask..and my Mum will want to talk to her Mum and all that."

"Yeah she said that was fine too. I better go. I'm meeting your parents in 30 minutes."

"You'll be here that soon? Crap I better finish getting ready! Thanks again Edge. I'll see you soon, Bye!"

I hung up and rushed to my room to pick out my shoes. I ran back downstairs and found my Mum. I asked her about spending the night at Aids. Just like I thought, she wanted to talk to her Mum and I gave her the number. After that it was all worked out. I'd be staying the night at Aids house. I danced happily around my room. Everything was starting to work out perfectly.

At 7 I was hovering by the front door, waiting for Edge. If this didn't work then everything would be ruined. The bell rang at 7:15. I almost broke my neck trying to answer it but my Da beat me to it. He opened the door and Edge was waiting on the other side. He looked handsome in a clean pair of jeans and an ironed shirt. His hair was combed down and I thought he defiantly looked like a parent pleaser.

He introduced himself as Dave and shook my Da's hand.

"So you're the one who's come to steal my little girl from me?" I inwardly groaned and hoped this wasn't going to last long. Adam would be driving up to Aids' house soon and It would be a nightmare to have to explain all this.

Edge answered all the questions with polite 'No sirs' and 'yes ma'am', and after ten minutes I jumped up and said it was enough. We'd all been through enough torture for the night.

"If we don't leave now we'll be late for the show. We really have to go..now." We walked to the door and Edge helped me into my coat. Then we were bolting out of the house and we were free.

"Thank god in heaven that's over! I thought it would never end!" I said.

"Me neither. You Da doesn't like me very much." Edge wiped his forehead and looked shifty. I laughed and reached over to mess up his hair.

"That's better. You looked like Elvis or something."

"Thanks. Aids thought it might help make a better impression."

"Maybe it did. They both liked you I think. How do you feel about coming back for Christmas?" He looked terrified and I burst out laughing. "I'm just kidding. Don't worry you wont have to deal with them ever again." He looked more than a little relieved. "Is Aids waiting for us at her house?"

He nodded. "Yeah." I didn't feel weird around Edge like I thought I would. Maybe that silly dream really didn't mean anything after all.

Aids wanted to know all the details when we got to her house. Edge and I quickly filled her in and had just finished when Adam drove up.

"We can't mention any of this to him. Everybody promise?" I asked.

"I already told you how I feel" Edge said and I nodded.

"I know. Aids?"

"My lips are sealed." She promised. She leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Until Edge French kisses me tonight." I laughed in surprise and she grinned. When Edge asked us what was so funny we went into a fit of giggles.

We all walked outside and I saw Adam walking up the way towards us. My heart squeezed. I'd missed him so much..and I knew now that my Edge dream was just that..a dream.

"Hey good looking." Adam grinned at me and I broke into a run. I flew into his arms and almost knocked us both over.

"Wow. What's got into you?" He asked, laughing. I pulled back to look at him.

"I missed you that's all." I hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. I was afraid that if I kissed him on the mouth we'd never leave the yard. "I couldn't stop thinking about you all last night." Adam smiled that cute smile of his and my heart melted.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you either." He said.

"Erm...are we going to be gushing with love all night or are we seeing a picture?" Edge asked.

Aids rolled her eyes at him. "Way to be romantic Edge."

"I'm romantic!" He protested. "At the appropriate times." We all stared at him blankly until he snorted and grinned. "I'll admit that was a little rude, but I don't want to be late! I've wanted to see this movie for months."

"That's funny. I didn't plan on watching the movie at all." Adam said and winked at me. A little thrill went through me. Adam made me feel so special. Whatever feelings I had for Edge were nothing compared to what I felt for Adam. Maybe I was in love with him. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if I was.

Mrs. Amber Clayton. It had a nice ring to it. Then we could have a little Adam Jr. running around. He would be the spitting image of his Da, only maybe he would have my auburn curls. With Adam's eyes that would be the most beautiful baby in the world. He's be a little charmer too..just like his Da. We'd get a nice little cottage in a respectable neighborhood and our children would go to the best schools.

My perfect daydream was interrupted by the vans engine roaring to life. I didn't even remember getting in.

"You're quiet. Something bothering you?" Adam asked as he pulled into the street.

"I'm just thinking." I smiled. I looked into the back and saw Aids and Edge holding hands and sitting close. They were the sweetest couple. Aids smiled and winked at me and I grinned and sat back in my seat.

"What put that grin on your face?" Adam asked.
"hmm? Oh just things. Everything..nothing. Doesn't really matter." I reached over and brushed a stray crazy curl behind his ear. He smiled and took my hand in his. I sighed happily and looked out over our beautiful town of Dublin. Life was perfect. Or so I thought..

We made it to our seats just as the lights were dimming. The order was Aids, Edge, Adam and me. I was glad I wasn't sitting next to anyone but Adam. That way I could give him my full attention. He was right when he said he had other plans. I didn't see not one minute of the movie. I never knew kissing could be so much fun. Adam started kissing and nibbling on my neck and I gasped and had to fight back a moan.

I nibbled his neck too and found my favorite spot. Right at the start of his jaw. I kissed and sucked that spot raw and the whole time Adam was whispering the naughtiest things I'd ever heard in my life.

About an hour into this I realized that I had no idea what Aids and Edge were doing. I glanced at them while Adam was licking the shell of my ear and I grinned at what I saw.

They were in a lip lock and Aids was practically in Edge's lap. Aids pulled away and her mouth had moved somewhere around Edge's neck.

I heard Edge's soft croak "Oh god." And Aids laughed softly and did whatever it was again. Those two didn't seen to be having any problems.

Adam bit my ear lobe gently and moved down to suckle my neck. His hand wandered up to cup me breast and I stiffened. Adam felt the change in my mood and pulled back.

"Is that too far? I don't want to do anything you're uncomfortable with." This of course made me want to give myself to him right there. Instead I pulled him back and whispered against his lips.

"Keep your hands to yourself Bad Boy." He groaned low in his throat and took my mouth again. He kept his hands to himself during the rest of the movie.

We all left the theater together looking like four very happy individuals. I could tell by the big funny smile on Edge's face that he wasn't too disappointed about not seeing any of the movie. He had his arm around Aids' shoulders. She laid her head against him and smiled peacefully.

Adam had his arm around me and was smoking with his free hand.

"So what'd you think of the show Edge?" Adam asked with a knowing smirk.

"It was good." Edge managed to say while blushing. Adam snorted. I glanced at Aids and caught her eye. That was all it took to set us off. We both cracked up and before long Adam and Edge joined us.

On the drive home we were all quiet and contented. I'd had the best night of my life and I was looking forward to having a lot more like it. With Adam by my side.

Adam pulled up to Aids' house and it was time for us to say our good-byes. I climbed over to sit on Adam's lap and kiss him silly. I leaned back and we grinned at each other.

"I don't want to leave you." I said sadly.

"I'll see you tomorrow. We can get together after your Village meeting." He brushed a curl away from my forehead and smiled.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow than." I gave him one more kiss and climbed out. "G' night Adam."

"Night Love."

Aids was still in the back with Edge and I could hear them murmuring words of love to each other. I was tempted to go back to Adam but I held strong and eventually, Aids climbed out. We stood back and waved good-bye as they pulled away.

We both sighed as they disappeared around the corner. I looked at her and she looked at me. She looked about as sad as I felt.

"I miss Edge so much already!" She cried.

"I know! I miss Adam!" We stood there holding each other and trying to get a grip. When we did eventually go inside, I was glad we didn't have to talk to Aids' parents for very long before we went upstairs to her room. We stayed up late talking about our boys. I heard every wonderful thing about Edge at least twice and Aids heard the same about Adam.

"He's so kind and sweet..and the best kisser." Aids said with a face splitting grin. I grinned back.

"I looked over at you at one point and it looked like you were eating Edge alive." I said. Aids giggled and covered her face with a pillow.

"I can't believe I did that!" She squealed.

"I can't believe that I did that. I think I'm going to have a hickey."

"Oh my god me too! Here you might be able to see it already." We both bounded over to her dresser mirror. I could see a splotchy red mark on her neck and gasped.

"I can see it! Oh my god! What about me!?" I lifted my chin and Aids looked closely. Her eyes widened.
"Yep. right there." She touched the spot Adam had worked on most of the night and I flinched. It was still a little tender.

"Wow that's a big one." Aids looked close and I saw another on the other side of her neck.

"You've got another one! Look!" I showed her in the mirror and she stared in shock.

"I don't even remember him giving me that one! Holy shit. How in the hell am I going to hide two!?" She turned her head back and forth, examining Edge's work. She was smiling and not looking too upset that she had two hickeys to deal with and I didn't blame her.

"I don't even know how to hide one, let alone two!" We went through all of Aids makeup until we found the perfect cover.

"Just in case this wears off maybe we should wear a scarf for the next few days." I said.

"Good idea." Aids said, than she laughed and I looked at her with a raised brow. "I just thought of something...If we have these hickeys doesn't that mean that Edge and Adam have some too?" I thought about the spot on Adam's neck I'd worshipped all night with my mouth and grinned.

"Yes, they will. Only they wont be able to hide them with makeup!" We grinned at each other.

"How much do you want to bet that Edge is wearing a turtle neck tomorrow?" We both snickered.

"What about Adam? What do you think he'll do?" I asked. Aids looked thoughtful.

"I don't know. He might show it off. Edge might do that too. We'll find out in the morning one way or another."

"Lets hurry up and go to sleep so we can find out." I said and jumped onto the spare twin bed.. I slipped under the covers and turned towards Aids. "I don't know if I'll be able to sleep."

"You will. Just think..the faster you go to sleep the faster you'll see Adam again. And the sooner I'll see Edge." We both sighed happily for about the 50 th time that night and finally settled down to sleep. I closed my eyes and almost immediately drifted off.

What seemed like hours later I suddenly awoke. I wasn't sure if I'd heard a noise or if it was because I was in a strange bed. I lay staring at the ceiling for a minute, than I heard the sound again. It was a loud pinging noise. I clutched the covers protectively to my chin, I looked around as my eyes adjusted to the dark. The noise sounded like it was coming from outside. Or more like it was coming from the window.

I looked at Aids and saw she was still sleeping. I got quietly out of bed and tiptoed to the window. I pulled back the curtain with a shaky hand and looked out into the night. Aids' room was on the second floor so I looked down and tried to see any figures. Another rock hit the window and I gasped in fright. I'd seen where that one had come from though and I opened the window and stuck my head out.

"Who's down there?" I whispered loudly.

"It's Edge! I need to talk to you!" I saw his pale face looking up.

"Me? Why me?"

"It's important! Come down here and bring Aids!" His voice sounded a little irritated and scared. I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"We'll be right down!" I pulled back in and hurried to Aids' side. "Aids wake up." I shook her hard.

"W-What!?" She sat up looking around wild eyed. She saw me looming over her bed looking scared and she pulled back the covers. "What's going on?" She was ready for whatever I had to say.

"Edge is waiting for us outside. He says he needs to talk to me and it's really important. I think something's wrong. He didn't look well." Aids stared at me in surprise. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and nodded.

"Well, what are we still standing here for? Lets go." We didn't bother putting on clothes and sneaked downstairs in our pajamas. Aids unlocked the front door and we slipped out.

Edge was waiting for us and rushed to our sides.

"Edge what's happening?" Aids asked as she hugged him quickly. Up close he looked even paler and a little pissed off.

"It's Adam. He's gone." I felt all the blood rush from my head.

"Gone?" I whispered fearfully.

"What do you mean by gone?" Aids asked, looking pale as Edge now.

"He left. About three hours ago. Just took off in his van and he's still not back. I called his house every hour just to make sure."

"Why would he leave like that?" I asked through numb lips.

Edge looked sad. "It's my fault. I told him about me going to meet your parents. I didn't mean too. It just kind of fell out." Seeing the shocked looks on our faces he hurried on. "I was talking about what a long night it had been and I think I said something about what a character your Da was. Next thing I know Adam is asking me all these questions. I told him what you said earlier about it being too soon for him to meet your parents and he seemed fine with it. He even told me he was okay. He dropped me off and he hasn't been home since. His Aunt called me asking for him so I've been looking everywhere."

"Where would he go?" Aids asked. She looked at me in concern and put her arm around me.

"I don't know." Edge scrubbed his hands over his face wearily. "He knows so many people. He could be with any of them. You haven't seen him?"

"No. Not since he dropped us off. This is terrible. He could get into serious trouble." Aids said. Edge rubbed his hands together to generate some warmth and nodded.

All kinds of horrific things were running through my head. Anything could happen to Adam in the middle of the night. He could run out of gas and be stranded. He could be robbed or get into a car crash. Visions of twisted metal and blood made me start crying.

"Oh my God. It's all my fault!" I sobbed.

"No, it isn't." Aids tried to console me.

"Yes, it is! I should have never asked Edge to do something like that! I'm ashamed of Adam..I can't believe I like him so much and I'm ashamed of him at the same time!" I broke down and Aids held me. She looked at Edge over my shoulder and they started at each other helplessly.

"Shh. It's going to be all right. He'll be back and he'll be fine. Than we can kick his butt for making us scared like this." Aids said, trying to sooth us all.

"I called everyone I could think of and no one's seen him." Edge said.

"He'd know you were going to do that." I said snuffling as I pulled away from Aids. "He'd know someone would try to find him. So either someone's lying to you or he's with someone we don't know."

"I thought of that." Edge ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "There's nothing else we can do that I can think of. I guess I should've waited to tell you until morning." He looked even more guilty and Aids laid a hand on his arm.

"It's good that you told us. We need to know what's going on. We'll have to wait until morning before we go looking for him." The chances of three teens finding him at this time of night with no transportation and no money were very slim. In the morning we could get a group together and search.

"We can tell the Village. They'll help us with this." I said, feeling better already knowing that our friends would be behind us.

"I don't know if we'll have to go that far. I'm hoping Adam shows up by morning, but just in case he doesn't then we can call them." Edge said, pulling up the collar of his jacket to keep out the cold. Aids and I were both frozen through by that point.

"You'll call us as soon as you hear anything?" I asked anxiously and Edge nodded.

"You'll be the first ones I call." Aids and I hugged him good-bye and he left. We went back inside with heavy hearts. We also couldn't feel our faces from the cold and Aids fixed us some hot chocolate.

"I can't believe he found out. He must h-hate me" My voice broke and I closed my eyes. All I saw when I did that was Adam's smiling face so I quickly opened them again. I didn't want to see that now or I might start crying again.

"I should have never said for you to try it." Aids sighed. "I feel responsible just like Edge does." She handed me a steaming cup.

"Thanks. You shouldn't feel bad. I'm the one who is ashamed of him. Only I'm not really. I don't think I am. Oh I don't even know!" I took a sip of the chocolate and felt it's warmth spreading through me. "This is good. I hope he's all right..."

"He will be all right. He can take care of himself. You can talk to him tomorrow and get this all straightened out. For right now I think we should try and get some sleep."

I didn't know how I would get a wink of sleep now but I followed Aids back up to her room anyway.

We finished our cocoa in bed and tried to sleep. I lay awake a long time, thinking about my true feelings for Adam. Was I ashamed of him? I had been afraid to have him meet my parents because I knew they would disapprove of him, but that didn't mean I had a problem with him. Did it? I sighed wearily and rolled onto my side.

Aids was sleeping now and I was still awake. When I saw Adam next I was going to explain everything and get it all out. How could I do that when I didn't even know what was happening to me? I could see now how mad Adam would be and my stomach tightened with apprehension. Adam what are you doing out there? Please take care of yourself. I closed my eyes tightly and willed myself to sleep. Finally at around 4 in the morning I fell into a fitful slumber.

Chapter 10

I woke up with swollen and crusted over eyes. I wiped my face and slowly opened them. The sunshine streaming in through the window pierced my vision and I groaned. We must have forgotten to close the curtains after last night. Last night! Adam! I pulled back the covers and jumped out of bed. Aids was still sleeping and I knew what a dragon lady she was in the morning if she got woken up too early so I dressed and left quietly. I walked through the house until I found Aids Mum in the kitchen.

"Good morning...did we get any calls?" I hoped that Edge had called with some news.

"No, sorry. We haven't gotten any calls this morning." I nodded and left. If Edge hadn't called yet then he didn't know anything about Adam. It was only 8 in the morning. Still early.

Back in Aids' room I sat on the end of the bed and stared off into space. I needed to get home. Maybe Adam tried calling me last night and I wasn't there. I searched around for a piece of paper and pen and scribbled a quick note.

Going home to see if Adam called.
Call me if you hear anything.
If not, see you at the meeting.
~Red~

I gathered together my stuff and left. The neighborhood was just coming to life. The kids were out riding their bikes and Dad's were getting the papers. Family's were leaving for church together. My own family was probably just setting down to breakfast. They'd except me to be ready for services at 10 though. Crap I hate going to church sometimes. So many things seemed more important.

I turned onto my street and froze. Adam's van was driving down the street towards me. Oh my God what do I do? Should I be angry or happy to see him? I was relieved he was all right but I wanted to kick him for worrying all of us.

He slowed to a stop in front of me. I could see him through the windshield and he looked terrible. Like he'd been up all night. Maybe he had. I took a few steps towards him and hesitated. I wasn't sure I wanted to do this now. Maybe we should talk about it later. Before I could make a decision Adam cut the engine and got out.

He walked over to face me. Close up he looked even worse, he was wearing yesterday's clothes and had some green stains on him in odd places. His hair looked like a rats nest with some leaves and twigs stuck in it and I wondered exactly where he'd spent the night. His bloodshot eyes looked at me and then away. He still hadn't said anything, maybe he was waiting for me.

"Hi." I decided to make the first move.

"Hi."

That's it? Just hi? That's all you have to say to me after you disappeared for a whole night!?
"I was worried about you." I said. He turned his head to look at me. I hadn't anticipated the look of indifference in his eyes.

"Were you?" His voice was as cool as his stare.

"Yes, I was. I thought something bad might have happened. Where were you?"

He shrugged. "Here and there. It doesn't matter. I came to tell you that you've got your wish." Now I was really confused.

"My wish?"

"Yeah...you'll not have to have a boyfriend you're ashamed of anymore." I felt the blood drain from my face.

"W-What? Adam no..I'm not..I..I was worried about my parents. It had nothing to do with you...well not much. I'm not ashamed of you. Please believe me."

"I believe you." He said, carefully not meeting my eye.

"Then look at me." He did and I saw the hurt there and I'd never felt so bad in my life.

"If you want me to be able to do this then I have to know that you at least are proud of who I am. Someone has to be. I thought you were the one person who understood me." He looked away blinking rapidly. I was already in tears.

"I do understand you. This is one stupid thing I've done. Don't let it ruin what we have. I know we've only been on one official date but there is so much more between us. Adam..please give me another chance?" He stayed still as stone for a while and I could hear everything going on around me like it was through a long tunnel. Everything was warped somehow. Than he nodded and I almost fell over in relief.

"You'll give me another chance?"

"Yes..but the next time your parents was to meet your boyfriend..."

"You're him." I finished, smiling. He smiled back and opened his arms. I went into them happily. Things were going to get better now.

"How about you introduce me now?" Adam suggested. I thought about his wrinkly stained clothes and bit my lip.

"Um..it's not a good time now."

"why not?" He pulled back and looked at me. Oh great. Here we go again. I sighed and reached up to pluck a leaf form his hair. I brought it to his eye level. He stared and raised a blond brow. "So?"

"Adam! You can't meet them looking like you've slept in a bush somewhere."

" Relax I was just joking, and maybe I look like this because I almost did sleep in a bush somewhere." He said casually.

"You slept in a bush?" I goggled at him.

"Almost. I ended up sleeping in the van though. It's pretty comfortable in the back."

"Why didn't you go home? Edge was going all over town looking for you. He even threw stones at Aids' window to get us down to talk to him." Adam looked pleased to hear this.

"He did? Are you sure he didn't want to just talk to Aids? Maybe he had something more private in mind." He grinned rakishly. I rolled my eyes and didn't bother hiding my smile. It was good to have my Adam back.

"No, he wanted to talk about you. You better call him as soon as you can. He'll be worried sick by now."

"I will."

"I have to get home and get ready for church. Will I see you later?" I smiled hopefully. It almost seemed too good to be true that we were done fighting so easily.

"We're practicing after the meeting at Edge's house. If you can get a ride with him we can meet up there."

"All right. See you them. Bye." I leaned in to kiss him and at the last second chickened out and kissed his smudged cheek instead. As he walked back to the van I eyed a rather large green stain on his backside.

He looked back, saw me staring and grinned. "Like something you see?" I pointed and he looked down over his shoulder. "Oh. That. I took a piss down in the park and the grass was wetter then fecking seaweed. I slipped and fell down two times before I found my footing."

I pictured Adam flailing around and falling on his cute bubble butt and giggled.

He smiled at me over his shoulder as he climbed up into his van. "You wouldn't be laughing if it was your arse that had a bruise the size of an orange." He grimaced and shifted.

This made me laugh harder. "Aww my poor honey bear, want me to kiss it better?" His eyes twinkled and he reached down to start undoing his buckle.

"Any time you're ready love." He leered. I blushed and covered my eyes. I didn't need to see that! No matter how cute I thought it was.

"Um...I'll take a rain check. I've got to go now. Bye!" I bolted back to the sidewalk with Adam's laughter echoing behind me.

After church I changed and flew out of the house. Hopping on my bike, I peddled madly down the street. I only had 20 minutes to get there and I'd wasted enough time already. The wind whipped my hair around my head and I inhaled deeply the scent of the sea.

Normally Aids would be riding with me but this week she'd had to visit her Grandparents so her parents were dropping her off nearby. No one was allowed to know the exact spot of the meeting place except the members. If anyone found out we had to change it. We'd already moved it twice this year when Bono 'accidentally' brought some friends along. In other words he was bored and wanted to shake things up.

Slowing to a stop I hoped off and wheeled my bike into the library rack. Making sure it was secure, I glanced around and pulled my hood up. It hid my hair well so no one would recognize me. I stayed one step ahead of the other people walking and slipped into an alleyway going unnoticed be the bustling crowd.

It was much darker and danker back here but I kept my hood up just in case. The walls dripped with a brown ooze and I avoided touching them. This was a dirty, dangerous place for a bunch of teenagers to be meeting but we'd chosen it together as the closest place that we could all get too.

I took a wrong turn somewhere and found a dead end. I backtracked cautiously. The shadows were shifting and my eyes started playing tricks on me. I swore I saw figures walking by out of the corner of my eye but when I looked there was nothing there. I shivered. I needed to calm down. The important thing was to not give in to my fears.

Finally after walking around for what felt like hours but was really only minutes, I found one of our badges stuck to an old oak door. I knocked loudly and waited. A shuffling came from inside and I heard a groan.

"Ow! You bloody bastard that was my foot!" A deep voice that sounded like Gavin said.

"Sorry I didn't see you." Bono said.

I rolled my eyes and waited.

"What's the password?" Bono asked. Password? Bono never told me any...unless it was the same one.

"Steinhegvanhuysenolegbangbangbang."

"Correct." The door swung open. Bono grinned and stepped back, He swept his arm around, "Welcome Red. We were just about to start." I walked into the dim room. I could make out other people but I could tell who they were.

"Aids, are you here?"
"yep. Over here." I followed the sound of her voice. I stumbled on something solid and a little squishy.

"Ooff! Watch it! You almost damaged me family jewels!" Snickers all around and I stepped carefully the rest of the way.

"Sorry Gavin." My eyes were partially adjusted now and I could see Aids along with Edge, both sitting against one wall. I smiled. "You guys look cozy."

"We are." Aids laid her head on Edge's shoulder and smiled. "How're things?"

"Okay. Did Edge tell you about Adam?"

"Hmm..yeah he did. Glad he's okay." I nodded in agreement.

"This meeting will now come to order!" Bono's voice boomed loudly in the small space. I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned. Guggi's shadowed face smiled at me.

"You can sit by me. Come on." He led me to a free spot and we sat down. I scooted around trying to find a comfortable position but soon gave up. A light flashed in the middle of the room and I squinted. Bono held up a lantern and his features were hauntingly illuminated.

"That light would've helped when I was trying not to ruin Gavin's chances of ever being a Da." I whispered to Guggi and he wheezed out a laugh.

"Welcome! We've come here today to plan our next event. If you didn't already know the last one was lost by Red and Aids." I cringed and sighed. Guggi put his arm around me and squeezed. I felt reassured and relaxed a little against him. Bono went on and on about the next event but I wasn't really interested. It was pretty dull and I wondered why I'd even bothered coming. I could have been spending time with Adam instead.
By the time Bono called the meeting to a close it was an hour later and I was more than ready to leave. Gavin, who was on my other side, stood and offered me a hand.

"Thanks. I think my butt will be asleep for days." I rubbed my backside and saw Gavin staring. "What?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Nothing. I was just wondering if you needed help with that." He came up behind me and patted my left buttock.

"Hey!" I smacked his hand away. He glared at his own hand reproachfully.

"Bad hand! Get hold of yerself!" He burst out laughing.

I glared. "If you want to keep both of those hands I suggest you keep them to yourself." He held them up in surrender, still chuckling.

Shaking my head, I wandered over to Edge. He and Aids were hugging and kissing, and whispering things to each other that I couldn't hear. I kept my distance until they pulled apart. Aids saw me.

"Hey." She grinned.

"Hi. Um..Edge are your parents picking you up?"

"Yeah, they're waiting by the library. Why?"

"Can I get a ride to your house? If there's room for my bike in the back."

He shrugged. "I guess so." We left in pairs and met up at the back of the library. His Mom was waiting. I shoved my bike in the boot and sat in the back. Edge sat in the front and I was squashed between Bono and Aids, but I didn't mind.

Bono was unusually quiet. He hadn't said more then a few words the whole ride and that was something to worry over.

"Bono are you okay?" He was looking out the window in a distracted way and didn't hear me. I repeated myself and he looked my way.

"Hmm? Oh, I'm dandy. Why?"

"You're quiet. That's not like you."

He smiled and rubbed a hand over his face. "Nothing is like me. I'm one of a kind." He grew serious then. "Can I ask you something?" I was really curious now and also a little worried about what I might be getting into.

"Of course..what?"

He looked nervous and shifted in his seat, then leaned in to whisper, "Would you sleep with me?"

I jerked my head away and sat up. "What!?' All the other conversation stopped and Bono turned pink.

"What's going on?" Edge asked, looking curiously at us. Before I turned Bono over to the mob for sickos I needed to know exactly what he was talking about. His quiet mood couldn't be because he wanted to sleep with me. That didn't make any sense at all.

"Nothing. Everything's fine." I smiled at Edge and he went back to trying to talk him Mum into getting him a new amp. Aids was helping by naming all the reasons he needed one.

I grabbed Bono's arm and yanked him closer. "What do you mean will I sleep with you?" I hissed.

He sighed, "I wasn't really asking. It was more a hypothetical question."

"Thanks for telling me that beforehand. So you want to know hypothetically if I would sleep with you?" I tried to grasp what was going on. I knew Bono was going through something but it was eluding me as to what it was.

"Yeah..only we've been together for a long time and I told you that I love you and everything. What would you do?"

"Bono why are you asking me..." Once I really thought about it, it suddenly made sense. "oh, is this about Ali?" He blushed. That was answer enough for me. I hadn't ever thought of Bono and Ali being intimate like that but they had been together for what seemed like forever.

"She's saying it's still too soon, but how long does it have to be?"

I was very uncomfortable now."It's different for everyone."

"What about you?" It was my turn to shift in my seat. This wasn't exactly a guy girl conversation. Why couldn't he talk to Edge or Adam about this?

"It would depend, Bono."

"On what? Maybe if you tell me I'll have a better idea of what she's going through." He looked eager to learn. Wow..this was a nightmare come true, but he was my friend and I had to at least give him something useful.

"I don't know what she's thinking, but if it was me..I'd have to be sure I loved you, and knowing that you loved me too. And not just saying it to get my skirts up either, real love." Bono was soaking it up like a sponge.

"What else?"

Good God. I sighed. "I don't know..." He scooted closer and laid a hand on my knee.

"It's important." His eyes pleaded with me and I caved. I was always a sucker for beautiful eyes.

"Okay. It's a real important thing for a girl. I'm not just going to be with anyone. It has to mean something."

He nodded vigorously. "I get that. I feel the same way. So, would you be with me?"

I groaned. This had gone too far. "Yes, Bono all right? Is that what you want to hear? I'll sleep with you!"
I didn't mean to yell it out like that but I was frustrated. Mrs. Evan's gasped and Edge looked back at us with raised brows. Aids snorted around a grin and tried to contain her laughter. How embarrassing! I glanced at Bono. He looked cockily pleased with himself and I felt like I was going to be sick.

"That's all I wanted to know." Bono smiled widely.

"Are you really even having problems with Ali?"

"Who me?" He pretended to look shocked and I groaned and buried my face in my hands for the rest of the ride. Thankfully it was a short distance to Edge's house and I swore right then that I would get Bono back for that!

Larry was already setting up his drums when we walked in. I was told Adam was in the kitchen and went to find him. He was pouring himself a cup of coffee and had his back to me. I snuck up on him and slipped my arms around his waist, and snuggled his back.

"Who's that?" He asked. I huffed ad pulled away.

"It's the girl of your dreams."

He turned around grinning, "Oh it's you."

"What do you mean 'oh it you' Who were you expecting?" I pretended to glare.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Elizabeth Taylor?" I snorted and smacked his arm.

"Your bad."

"Bad..Mmm..lets be bad together." He slid his arms around me and pulled me close. I reached up to put my arms around his neck but stopped halfway when I actually got a look at it.

"Oh my God...did I do that to you?" I touched the splotchy mark on Adam's neck. How fascinating that I could do that to him. It made me feel powerful to have put my mark on him.

"If it wasn't you then it must have been some other beautiful girl sucking on me last night." The way he said it implied something other than a hickey and I blushed.

"Stop that." I pressed down and watched him flinch. "Sorry, mine's sore too."

"Yours? Let me see." He brushed my scarf aside and smiled smugly. "Wow, you had some kind of night last night. That's impressive."

"Thanks so much. Care to give me another?" A few minutes later we were interrupted by a loud cough.

"Give me a fecking break. Get a room will you?" Larry grumbled from behind a grinning Bono.

"I thought I was the one you wanted? Will you push aside my love away so quickly?" Bono asked in a Shakespearean accent

"Buzz off." I waved him away and pulled Adam back down for another kiss.

Bono fell against the table and slid into a seat. He sat up and proceeded to act as if nothing had just happened. What a weirdo. He started pouring himself a cup of coffee and I thought it looked good so I joined him.

"Where's Edge and Aids?" I asked.

"Those two are snogging each other faces off on the couch. We came in here to get a break from them and we find you and mister afro man going at each other like rabbits." Larry grumbled.

"Sorry Larry. We can't help it if we enjoy kissing. Don't you like kissing Anne?" I smiled innocently at the fierce blush that swept his face.

"That's none of your business."

"Oh...but it's your business whether Adam and I kiss?"

"If its right in my face, then yes."

"Well, why-"

"Stop the madness!!" Bono wailed and slammed his head on the table. Poor Bono was really distraught..either that or he was an excellent actor.

"We'll call a truce. That okay with you Larry?" He nodded and I smiled. "Good. Why don't we get refills and The Hype can get busy on practicing?"

"I don't like that name. We need to change it." Bono said as we walked into the living room. Adam took my hand in his and squeezed. I smiled at him in surprise. I didn't really know if he'd truly forgiven me about before but now I felt better about it.

"What do you want to change it to this time?" Larry complained. "We've already changed it twice."

"Yeah and if you had it your way Lar we'd be The Larry Mullen Band." Adam said grinning. Larry didn't comment.

In the living room Aids and Edge were on the couch, but they weren't making out. At least not anymore. They were playing guitar now. A tune I didn't recognize.

"What're you playing?" They both looked up and stopped.

"Nothing. Just messing around." Edge said, looking shyly at Aids.

"Lets play something. I've been thinking about some new lyrics I want to use." Bono said excitedly.

They all agreed and I sat down next to Aids on the couch to watch them at work. It was slow to start but once they found their rhythm things seemed to flow. By the ended of that evening they had finished their very first song. They called it Street Missions. Edge ended it with a huge guitar solo and when he played it he stood so still. He didn't move at all, it was almost as if time itself had stopped. At the end Aids and I jumped up and clapped and whistled. Edge smiled proudly and took a little bow.

By the end of that month The Hype played several more gigs. Most of them Aids and I could get to. Some we couldn't. the Hype soon changed their name to U2 right before they went to perform on a TV program called Youngline. I sat at home, watching and being mesmerized by them. They were really going somewhere. It was amazing. It was a big milestone in their music career. As I watched Adam strut his stuff on the stage my heart fluttered. His dreams were starting to come true, and I was happy. I was also filled with a nervousness that I couldn't explain. Was I worried about Adam getting famous? I wasn't sure of anything.

One morning Aids and I were waiting outside our classroom talking about the upcoming dance when we heard some shouting and laughing. I looked towards the noise to see what was going on. The crowd parted and Adam walked out...wearing a skirt. Everyone around was laughing and pointing. Some were calling him names, but Adam seemed completely unfazed by it all. He just kept walking towards his class.

"Oh my god is that Adam?" Aids asked laughing.

I sighed and nodded. "Yes, that's him."

"Why is he wearing a skirt?"

"I have no idea, but I'm about to find out." Walking over to him I elbowed my way through the gawkers. I reached his side and taped his shoulder.

"What in the name of God are you doing?" I demanded.

He grinned at me. "I'm earning a living. I need some smokes."

I stared in disbelief. "You're wearing a skirt as a bet to get money?"

"Yes. How do I look?" I carefully looked him up and down and shook my head. "You look like a man in a skirt. How long do you have to wear that?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe all day."

"Can't you get money any other way? What about a job?"

"My folks want me to stay in school and getting work interferes with that. Besides what am I gonna do?"

"I-I don't know." I sighed. "Well, if this gets you money then fine, but I'm not watching you get humiliated. I'll see you when that skirt is gone." I marched off angrily. I didn't really mind Adam coming up with ideas to make money but I did have a problem with him putting himself out there as some kind of sideshow freak. It didn't feel right.

There was several more incidents like that over the next few months. Finally Adam's housemaster took him aside and gave him a choice. Stay in school or don't. Adam didn't. He left school and decided to become U2's manager. I was excited about him having something good like that to do. He was happier out of school too. Once the pressure of that was gone everything else got easier.

On Saint Patrick's Day we were all catching a train to Limerick. We were going there for a contest that U2 was entered in. The prize was a record deal and that would be unbelievable if they won. We were all hoping for the best. Some of The Village was coming along and I was ecstatic. Aids sat next to me on the train while the guys talked excitedly on their own.

"I'm so nervous. This is a huge thing. I hope they win." Aids said.

"Me too." I said it and meant it but I still had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Earlier in the week Aids had come to me when Edge asked her to go with him and I'd waited anxiously for Adam to ask me. He waited until days later. I almost said no just to get back at him but in the end I couldn't. I knew how important this was to all of them. Nothing had ever meant this much and as someone who'd been there from the beginning I wasn't about to miss this.

When we got off the train and to our hotel we were told we had four rooms to share. Gavin and Guggi took one, Larry and Bono took another. That left two rooms for us four to have.

"Looks like we've got a choice." Adam said, while casually puffing on a cigarette. Edge was watching Aids and Aids was watching me. Oh so it was up to me to say it? Last night Aids and I had talked about what we would do in this situation.

I turned to Adam and smiled. "Why don't we share a room?" He smiled slowly and winked. I felt like I wanted to run away. I wasn't ready even if Adam was, but it was too late now.

Aids smiled and took the key. She looked ten times more relaxed then I felt and I envied her. She had no pressure with Edge. He'd told her already that they could wait until she was ready for anything serious. Adam had said that once but that was months ago. The only thing I heard about it now was 'when is it going to happen?.' I never told him how I really felt about it because I was afraid he would get angry with me and the pressure was almost too much. The mounting tension was becoming monstrous.